Having read pretty much everything printed about this issue, I’m remembering the following.

Many years ago when need for a new high school was made clear, heavy pressure was put on local towns’ people to approve financing touted as the very best we could hope for, and that if we didn’t act immediately, this most excellent opportunity would be lost forever, the sky would fall, delay would only increase costs.

Fortunately, the voters saw through the hype and voted no.

Just a few years later a much more attractive financial package was arranged which the voters wisely agreed to. Moral of the story? Don’t always fall for high pressure tactics accompanying a too good to pass up and once in a lifetime pitch. Haste makes waste. Take time to consider all the options. Get back to negotiating table with Camden. Perhaps we, or they, or both didn’t have the right people at the table before. Assemble a new team.

It’s ridiculous that these two bitty towns, smaller than a black fly, shouldn’t be able to cobble together a solution that will benefit both the people and the towns they serve.  

In the recent past a large number of voters filled Rockport’s Opera House to express their thoughts about bringing broadband to the town. The cost was high. The Select Board was in favor because it would enable Rockport to attract more business. The people were concerned that upgrading to broadband would increase their property taxes beyond what they were already paying, forcing some of them to sell and leave.

The Select Board was 100% in favor of it; the 90% of people in attendance voted the measure down. Moral of the story? Sometimes Select Board members may be out of step with what the people of Rockport really care about: Keeping Rockport what it is – a small, livable village where those of all income levels can afford to live.

Rockporters have traditionally voted in favor of whatever is asked for; the Town Office can pretty well count on this.

Of late, however, the people of Rockport have been asked to approve more and more, and to take on greater debt. We’ve OK’d building or significantly remodeling four schools, a school administrative building, a library, an opera house, and a town office in recent years.

Within the last 12 months we have been asked to rebuild and expand a fire station, create our own EMT and emergency call system, and ok this sewage system expansion. It’s a lot of new spending in a short period of time. 

Article 3 wants taxpayers to approve over $51million to construct “a new wastewater recovery facility and extend the collection system along Route 90 to Route 17….” 

So we’re being asked to solving the current problem but taking on more debt to expand the reach of the sewer system. I’m especially concerned by the statement that there are, “significant grants The Select Board expects to receive,” and that part of future debt payment is tied to future businesses and homeowners in the expansion areas, passing the burden onto the backs of new ratepayers.

Additionally, Rockport is composed of five small areas, not just the village center. I’m guessing that many homes and businesses in these outlying areas purchased properties because they were less expensive, and they have septic systems in place. Somewhere I read that these properties, would be forced to join the new wastewater extension if it is available to them. What kind of expense would they face? 

Seems to me that that the Town Office is combining two issues into one.

The primary concern is that Rockport needs to solve its current waste problem for the here and now.

The secondary issue is that the Town Office wants to use the sewer issue to expand the entire sewer system so as to meet its own, unstated goal of economic development and expansion of the town.  

I do wonder whether those involved in running the Town Office and Select Board Members, etc., are truly representing what the Town’s People want.

Or are they all about growth and economic expansion? Development? Expanding the tax base?

Are they merely representing their own vision of what they’d like Rockport to become and using this sewer issue as a way to further that vision?

Mary Orear lives in Rockport