Select Board renews lodging committee members as committee applicants urge stronger short-term rental rules

The Wells Select Board on July 1 approved term renewals for several members of the Lodging Facility Advisory Committee and heard multiple applicants describe the committee’s work and the need to update short-term rental and lodging rules.

Atana Wells, an applicant and member of the lodging industry who appeared before the board, told the Select Board the committee’s aims should include “maintain[ing] public safety, share[ing] infrastructure costs of police, fire, and public works between taxpayers and the industry, and maintain[ing] the economic environment created by lodging facilities in the town of Wells.” Wells said the committee can help update short-term rental rules but should avoid acting as “a trade association to the benefit of its members.”

Several other applicants and current committee members spoke in favor of stronger safety standards and clearer regulation. Sharon Myers, who said she is a…