As I sat down to write this letter, I was preparing to explain what a thorough job our Wastewater Task Force had done in recommending a location and technology for a new Rockport wastewater treatment plant. It didn’t take me long to realize that these are not the issues that most Rockport residents are wrestling with. Just today an acquaintance of mine told me that he hasn’t followed this issue closely but that “$33 million is a lot of money and it seems as if Camden and Rockport should work together on this”. 

And there is the crux of the problem. 

How can we, who have been working on this issue for well over a year convince the voters that the Rockport select board has bent over backwards to try and arrive at an arrangement with Camden that would be in everyone’s interest? The history has been ugly. Letters have been written stating that Camden wants us off their system, lawsuits initiated, meetings have been unilaterally cancelled, a Camden select board member has told some of our task force members that they don’t want Rockport’s sewage but Camden’s Town manager writes a letter to the newspaper that they are  ready to talk , private conversations have been made public,  and the list goes on and on. 

So, what is a Rockport voter to do? 

Well, consider this. The select board unanimously recommends voting yes on Article 3, the Budget Committee unanimously recommends voting yes on Article 3, the majority of the Wastewater Task Force recommends voting yes on Article 3. Most of these people are the ones you voted into office to do their best to represent yours and the Town’s best interest.  They have been trying to work for over a year with Camden and trying to understand the issues. If you don’t have the time or inclination to read the 64 page wastewater report, trust your representatives who are trying to do what is best for Rockport’s long term future.  Please vote “Yes” on Article 3 on the June ballot.

Douglas Cole lives in Rockport