By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — A resident suggested the town invite to the next Naples Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) a few folks from the governor’s office who are qualified to explain LD 2003, the housing law that the state is helping municipalities to implement.

Plus, the request led to a realization that the time the ORC meets has been prohibitive for some people. That may be remedied.

Local business-owner Sue Fleck volunteers her time on the ORC. That committee is currently going over LD 2003. Recently, she went to an educational program on LD 2003 that was held in Portland. Fleck shared her experience during the public participation portion of the agenda at the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday.

“I got up and spoke. Go figure. When I did a man from Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) came over and spoke to me. He said that he has the ability to come out to us. He can come out and meet with us and help us with working that into our ordinance. And, there are two people from the governor’s office, a task force put together to go around and help the towns with this project,” Fleck said.

She directed her comments to the board.

“I am new enough on the committee. You guys have to do a directive on what we do on committees. I didn’t know if we would have a town manager yet. I don’t know if you guys direct the staff or one of us to have Matt from GPCOG come to one of our meetings,” she said.

Selectman Kevin Rogers said the state task force has already provided a presentation to the select-board. However, the town planner would definitely benefit from GPCOG’s help, and it should be encouraged that those two people network with each other, Rogers said.

Some things that municipalities can do to manage the law’s requirements are: Enacting lot size per unit requirements (as long as the required area for units is not larger than the first), defining the maximum number of accessory dwelling units per lot, and regulating short-term rentals.

“The majority of people on board that created LD 2003 spoke. They talked about what we were struggling with,” Fleck said. “I thought maybe it would be a good idea for them to work with our ORC. They would bridge the gap between what is short term rental and not. It’s hard for seasonal communities to balance it. But, there is a significant need. A community member said there was a significant number of widows — them needing to be able to sustain the payments on their homes by doing short-term rentals.”

Selectman Bill Adams had a simple solution: Have the GPCOG employee come to next ORC meeting.

Fleck admitted she wasn’t sure when the next one would be.

“I would like to see those meetings held when all members can attend,” Chairman Ted Shane said. “I am on the ORC Committee, and 10 a.m. doesn’t work for me. Maybe 3 or 4 in the afternoon [would work]. It is not that I don’t get out of bed. I have a job.”

Fleck agreed that later in day might be easier on work schedules.

“I really have to plan to be there. I was told that we have to meet at a time when the staff is available. It’s easier for the planning consultant to be there,” she said.

Naples Town Manager Jason Rogers said, “I can figure out hours and make it work.”

Meanwhile, Selectman Colin Brackett — who joined the meeting via Zoom — asked if someone could add all committee meetings to the 2024 Online calendar.