Vote no on Rockport warrant articles 2 and 3
Rockport Articles 2 and 3 are a severe infringement upon private property rights and need to be overwhelming rejected by Rockport voters.
Example: Article 2 says, "the light level at the lot lines shall not exceed 0.5 foot candles at ground level." What nonsense. That is ridiculous. What is going-on with the Select Board members?
But that's not all. Article 2 would force changes to private property deeds under certain circumstances! Terrible.
Article 3 is even worse. It is a gigantic expansion of what voters overwhelmingly rejected just a few years ago.
Do you remember how the Select Board angered residents with its support for Short Term Rental regulations? Well, get this... the Select Board is now pushing for a massive government program that would force intrusive regulations on ALL rentals! Every single Rockporter who rents out a room would be required to comply with forced inspections and forced compliance with any code that an official from the Town orders or else!
Failure to submit would result in severe financial sanctions upon that individual. And what is the Town's justification for this new, expensive program? They claim it is because of "health and safety." Is anyone aware of any "health and safety" incident that would require this massive expansion of town government?
And each person who rents out a room or house would be required to submit to this government intrusion each and every year. "The registration must be renewed annually." Wow! And that's not all. They would be required to pay a "registration" fee that is not even specified in this amendment! Is that even lawful? Plus, any owner out of compliance would be "fined on a per day basis." Yes, sir! Whatever you say, sir! How crazy is this?
Tiny Rockport does not need to create a new, big government bureaucracy. We do not want to hire more expensive government employees who are empowered with overriding our precious property rights.
Private property rights of citizens matter!
Please vote NO on 2 and 3.
Thank you.
Ethan Jones lives in Rockport
