The Harpswell Select Board has appointed a task force to examine the impact of short-term rentals and draft a policy. Nine members were chosen from among 29 applicants, demonstrating strong interest in how the town might regulate the growing industry.
The members are Jennifer Bisson, of Orr’s Island; Sheri Blackstone, of Great Island; Nellie Clifford, of Harpswell Neck; Bruce Davis, of Orr’s Island; Bob Gaudreau, of Great Island; Howard Levitan, of Orr’s Island; Bethany McNelly-Davis, of Bailey Island; Mark Sgantas, of Harpswell Neck; and Peter Shiras, of Orr’s Island.
Gaudreau serves on the Harpswell Affordable Housing Working Group. Levitan serves on the Harpswell Planning Board. Select Board member Jane Covey, of Great Island, will serve as a liaison between the Select Board and the task force.
The members include two owners of property management companies, one short-term rental “service provider” who works with both management companies and owners, three owners of short-term rentals, and three people who do not own short-term rentals, according to Covey. At least two of the non-owners live in neighborhoods with short-term rentals. One is a former innkeeper, one is a multiunit housing developer, and one has a background in public safety.
Covey, who is leading the Select Board’s push for a policy on short-term rentals, recommended the members. The Select Board voted 3-0 to approve the slate on Nov. 16.
The Select Board had agreed to create the task force at a meeting on Oct. 12, after the town’s code enforcement officer expressed concern about short-term rentals with health and safety issues, such as inadequate fire alarms or septic systems.
Long popular as a destination for seaside vacations, Harpswell has hundreds of short-term rentals. Estimates range from about 7% to more than 10% of the town’s roughly 4,200 residences.
Covey said it was hard to choose among the 29 applicants, all of whom were strong candidates. “It was really wonderful to see there’s so much interest in doing some work on this,” she said.
Select Board member David Chipman praised the selections, saying Covey “put together a pretty good cross-section of people.”
Deputy Town Administrator Terri Gaudet said that applicants who were not selected may still participate in the process. Task force meetings will be open to the public, like meetings of all town bodies.
Chipman said the task force has more than safety issues to consider. “That is a legitimate concern — affordable housing being taken away by Airbnbs,” he said.
The task force held its first meeting just five days after the appointments, on Nov. 21. A second meeting will take place at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28. Additional meetings will take place at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11 and 19.
The task force’s charge is “to assess the nature and perceived impact of short-term rentals in Harpswell and develop a regulatory policy” for consideration by voters.
In an email, Covey said the hope is to bring a recommendation to the annual town meeting on March 9, 2024, “the content of which will be determined by our progress on both elements of our mission.”
