ROCKPORT — A gathering of approximately 40 nonvoting Rockport property owners and taxpayers met for a special workshop of the Select Board at the Rockport Opera House July 23, the first-ever such meeting to share thoughts and concerns on a variety of municipal issues.

The concept for the meeting was developed by newly elected Select Board Chairman Doug Cole, who said it was important that individuals who live for designated months in Rockport and pay taxes have the opportunity to communicate directly with the Town Manager and Select Board members.

“This is a bit of an experiment for us since we’ve never done this before and it’s a learning experience for all of us,” said Cole.

He said` the idea for the meeting came about from a discussion with a neighbor about how several other New England communities with large seasonal populations hold similar forums.

“The people who come here for the summer contribute so much to the fabric of the Rockport community,” said Cole.

He injected some humor into his opening comments when he looked back 200 years to a time when the country fought a war based on taxation without representation, striking a chord with many in attendance.

Select Board members Mark Kelley and Jeff Hamilton were present at the meeting, with Debra Hall and Ken McKinley absent.

Town Manager Rick Bates shared a letter from McKinley welcoming the property owners to the meeting. McKinley said that due to state law, they are obligated to pay property taxes but cannot vote in the town’s elections or participate in town meetings.

McKinley recognized their time, energy and resources given to the town along with supporting local businesses.

“You are part of our town,” he added in his letter.

The open forum segment of the meeting began with several audience members expressing their frustration about feeling like “part-timers,” “the aways,” and “summer people,” and feeling a disconnect with the Rockport community.

Bob Jackson was the first person to speak and said he felt like a “second-class citizen.”

“I believe I’ve been discriminated against,” he said. “I’ve been prevented from speaking at meetings until a default was changed.”

Bates clarified that the meeting Jackson was referring to was the annual Town Meeting. He explained that if nonvoters wanted to speak at this type of forum, then according to town policy, the voters present must make that decision.

“I don’t care about the policy,” said Jackson. “I want to know what you think. Do you think this is right? Can or will you change this?”

Cole said he would look at the policy with Bates and added that he felt it was important that all voices are heard.

Gary Dunton spoke next and said it was important to maintain awareness about how the municipal departments, including fire, police, and public works, continue their duties during the periods when the part-time residents are out of the area.

The next issue addressed concerned rising tax rates.

Cole held up a prepared sheet that illustrated how individual taxes are parsed out.

He explained that approximately 26 percent of annual property taxes go directly to supporting the municipality.

The remaining 67 percent is designated for the school and education budget, while 7 percent is allotted to the county for emergency and dispatch services, the county jail and sheriff’s patrol.

Some residents questioned the cost of the new Camden Rockport Middle School and asked why the Select Board did not direct the SAD 28 School Board to set its own mil rate for the construction and raise funds without putting an extra burden on the towns.

Cole said that the Select Board does not have the authority to do that since the School Board is a separate entity with its own elected officials.

Bates confirmed that there are 549 nonvoting taxpayers in Rockport and approximately 3,200 voting residents.

Judy Burgess commented that the 549 figure only includes homes owned by taxpayers and not additional individuals residing at the property. 

Lee Anne Dunton, a member of the Rockport Garden Club, requested that the electrical box near the Andre statue be relocated in Harbor Park and another option for adding flowers to the Goose River Bridge be implemented since the Maine Department of Transportation has ordered the removal of the flower boxes. 

Hamilton, who is the Select Board liaison to the Harbor Committee, confirmed that the electrical box will be moved and Bates said he would address adding poles on both ends of the bridge so the Rockport Garden Club could hang flower baskets.

Patricia Kelly expressed her disappointment that more people did not show up for the meeting, but applauded Cole for stepping up and holding the meeting. Many of the attendees stated that they never received the letter inviting them to the meeting.

Before the meeting concluded, final discussions included plans for the Rockport Public Library and available burial plots at the Sea View Cemetery.

Bates encouraged attendees to use the town’s Livestream system to watch town meetings and to actively participate by submitting their questions online during the broadcasts. A list was also available for attendees to also add their email addresses to a list. 

In closing, Cole did not mention when or if a definite follow-up meeting would take place in the future, although he had said during his opening comments that the gathering may become an annual tradition. 

Attendees applauded the Select Board and Town Manager at the conclusion of the meeting.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com