Dear Town Manager and Select Board,

My name is Jan Fish, I have lived in Rockport for 60-plus years. Our small community has always had a warm caring feeling, people caring about their neighbors and the local folks around town.  The rich and the poor respecting each other’s space and still minding ones own business. 

When you start implementing rules and regulations in regards to what a person can do with their own property it changes the essence and flavor of our town. If a resident needs or just wants to rent their property, that is their business. Perhaps it’s to keep up with the ever increasing real estate tax obligation or perhaps it just provides fulfillment of purpose. That being said, it’s their privilege as a property owner in Rockport to do with their home whatever they wish.

When the town starts telling people what they can and cannot do with their home it is far beyond the scope of town government. Don’t make regulations for regulations sake.

STR for some makes the difference between keeping their home or being driven out. 

I passionately ask you to take a step back and leave things be. Focus on the needs of our  parks and roads, schools and open space. Let the less privileged enjoy their piece of this charming town. Listen to the people that have helped make this town what it is today. 

We do not need STR to be regulated by the town. The town can focus on cutting costs of operation, wonderful bridge dinners, fireworks, parades and events of a small town that is about all its citizens not just a few that want to control every situation.

Jan L. Fish lives in Rockport