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Selectmen move toward registration and fees for short-term rentals as housing committee advances
Summary
Following a committee report, the Selectmen signaled they prefer a registry-and-fee approach (rather than penalties) for short-term rentals and will prepare ordinance or fee proposals for public hearings; the board also discussed creating a $100,000 housing reserve funded from tax-acquired property sales.
A short‑term rental committee delivered recommendations to the Selectmen and provided a PowerPoint summarizing comparative approaches. At the Aug. 15 meeting the committee outlined options and the board thanked members and directed staff to begin drafting ordinance language and fee structures for public hearings later in the fall. Board members signaled a preference for a registration-plus-fee model rather than blanket penalties for year‑round landlords who provide needed housing.
Separately, at an earlier meeting the board agreed to set aside $100,000 from tax‑acquired property proceeds as a housing reserve to fund planning or pilot housing projects. Selectmen and staff said such a reserve could be used for housing planning or to seed affordable housing efforts, though specific programs or allocations were not yet specified.
The Selectmen instructed staff and the committee to continue drafting regulatory language and to schedule hearing dates so voters and residents can provide input before the town advances any ordinance changes or fees.
