ROCKLAND – The Rockland City Council in their regular meeting April 12 presented an ordinance in its first reading concerning recreational vehicles. After a motion to pass the ordinance councilors got down to the business of discussing it.

Councilor Valli Geiger was first to speak out concerning the ordinance. She said she had spoken to many citizens.

"I have real concerns about the city ever tightening rules for homeowners," she said. "I'm not convinced that we need a blanket rule preventing people from having recreational vehicles in their driveway or on their property for more than a week."

Geiger said that if someone wants to pull into their grandkid’s driveway and spend a month, it is ridiculous that the city should care.

"I think that the concerns about fire are valid," she said. "But the way around that is to talk about seasonal limit rather than a year-round, one-week ordinance."

Councilor Ed Glaser said he could appreciate the desire of the city to clean up so there is safe housing in the community.

"The fire department is happy and heating is not a problem," he said. "There are two parts to this. One is I'm hesitant to pass more regulations. I know we should be in favor of anything that makes things better, but more regulations seem to be a burden on people. The other is that the regulations are to make the city look better. A little bit safer, but look better."

Glaser said he was not crazy about gentrifying Rockland any more than is necessary.

"I know there are people who are in favor of this because it means somebody won't be able to park an RV in their backyard next to another house," he said. "I think we are in a housing crunch. Even if only a few of them are used for real housing it might solve some of that problem."

Glaser said he might vote for the ordinance in its first reading if it went to committee review.

Councilor Adam Ackor said he would be much in favor of the ordinance.

"I wouldn't view all regulations as a bad thing, "he said. "We need to give the code office the tools that they need to properly address situations where these living conditions are substandard or not meeting basic code that we all have to meet."

Ackor said that without these basic tools code enforcement has their hands tied.

"Where folks are causing difficult situations in neighborhoods and are having an adverse effect with their neighbors, I think it's just common sense and code enforcement needs to have these rules in place," he said.

Code Enforcement Officer John Root said he was not opposed to amendments that would allow relatives to stay longer periods of time.

"This ordinance is the result of my receiving complaints and not having good, clear regulations that I can work with," he said. "We are way out on a limb when we say it doesn't meet standards for housing, so you can't live there.”

Root said the complaints are about people living in campers adjacent to properties and often times causing problems with neighbors.

"If you do not pass this I will take it to mean anybody can stay in a camper for as long as they want in the city of Rockland on any property," he said.

Geiger weighed in that there is a middle road. She felt the ordinance was onerous and amendments could be made.

"We can talk about that you are not allowed to rent substandard housing, and RVs would be out with that," she said. "The reality is we have more and more people looking at winter rentals only than are looking for summer housing. We have employers all over town who are struggling to find workers."

Geiger said she would like an ordinance more tailored toward the real problems and not a blanket ordinance forbidding all RVs.

Root said that if the ordinance is not passed it actually makes his job easier.

"If you do pass it, it makes my job easier," he said. "I win both ways."

Ackor disputed Geiger's claim that the ordinance was onerous.

"I just think it's critically important the code enforcement has tools even on a basic level to address these situations as they arise," he said.

Ackor said the discussion is about RVs that, in one form or another, are in already densely packed neighborhoods.

"There is no way for code enforcement to enforce even basic rules at this point," he said. "This is far from onerous in my view."

Root added that his department was reasonable and uses common sense whenever they can. Root stated that this was an ordinance that he needed on occasion. He said it was was not something he was going to use to kick relatives out of someone's yard.

Rockland Mayor Will Clayton said: This is nothing new," and had been brought to multiple councils in his five plus years on council, but not to this degree.

Clayton said that code enforcement does not have the tool it needs and that he is open to amendments.

"It's a safety issue on a couple of different levels," he said. "I was able to drive around the city and found RVs that are not your typical RVs. The tires don't work, the thing doesn't run and it's filled with trash. That's what this is for. It's kind of onerous in my opinion that somebody should have the ability to live there. We're not doing that person any favors."

Clayton urged his fellow councilors who were not going to vote for the amendment to talk to the fire chief.

Clayton also said that council needs to think of the neighbors. If they are subjected to the rules for housing, what kind of message is the city sending? 

"As a sponsor, I am willing to work with any councilor," said Clayton. "I share some of the same hesitancies on making sure it's clearly defined, as far as family and vacationers who are here temporarily, but it shouldn't be twisted into saying that we're trying to eliminate. We're not."

The council voted 4-0 in favor of the ordinance's first reading. A public hearing is scheduled for May 15.