NEWRY, ME Feb. 26, 2025 — Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey explains a proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance at a public meeting on Feb. 26. (Rose Lincoln/The Bethel Citizen) Rose Lincoln

NEWRY — Newry Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey presented her town’s proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance and asked for input from the 55 people in the audience at a public meeting on Feb. 26 at Newry’s Bear River Grange.

Corey had emailed the working proposal to 25-30 rental owners and real estate offices in and around the ski resort town. In her message, she emphasized that the ordinance aims to ensure the health and safety of renters and clarified that the Town would not be imposing a cap on the number of vacation rentals in Newry.

At the meeting, Corey invited feedback from the assembled stakeholders. The ordinance was drafted in response to complaints received at the town office, including issues with noise, trash, loose dogs, and fire department violations, such as windows or means of egress being blocked by bunk beds.

“It’s time we put some parameters around protections for our visitors when they come here,” said Corey.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour and a half, covered topics including parking, lighting, fire safety, and more.

Several rental owners, including one who lives five hours away from Newry, expressed a desire to remain the primary contact for their properties. The current working proposal prohibits rental owners who live more than 25 miles away from being listed as the contact. One rental owner argued, “We are responsible and want to be responsible.” Corey said she would rework the proposal, possibly adding a second contact.

Occupancy

Corey said she had received six emails that week with concerns about occupancy limits in the proposal. Rental owners expressed opinions on both sides of the issue at the meeting.

Stephanie Erickson, of Greenwood, said she and her husband would lose 20% of their business income as rental owners were the proposal to pass. The proposal limits the number of renters based on the number of bedrooms. She said they would also have to decrease their rates because a property that rents to eight people does not rent as frequently as a property that rents 10-12. She said additional guests didn’t happen often and doesn’t affect their septic systems.

“It’s state law, it’s how your septic system was designed for your home [based on the number of bedrooms],” said Corey. She said there have been no septic system failures but, “everything in Newry is on a hill. It’s only a matter of time.”

As the licensed plumbing inspector for the Town, Corey said pumping a septic tank was not always sufficient, “When you start excessively pumping part of a septic system, it works as a whole. Now you are introducing the possibility of more nitrates into the ground, which is hazardous to our groundwater that we drink and is hazardous to the plants and the wetlands and everything else around us.”

“Patrick” of Maine Mountain Rentals argued that the ordinance unfairly targets vacation homes while private residences with multiple generations living under one roof are not subject to the same scrutiny. “It’s a weird double standard,” he said. Corey responded that the difference is the exchange of payment for services.

Some attendees applauded when Ron Savage, of Bethel, said rental owners should expand their leach field to meet the number of bedrooms. “You don’t want it to be vacation week and and have septic back up.”

A few attendees supported the new rules, recognizing their broader benefits. One woman shared her experience living in Kennebec, where an overabundance of septic systems had caused water contamination in Kennebec Pond, preventing swimming for several years. “Now you have nobody to rent your property to,” she explained.

One person who listed several strains on services, stated, “To say there’s no impact on the local community is not right.”

Affidavits 

An audience member expressed concern about enforcing the new proposal calling it, “unrealistic.” When Corey explained that violators could be identified through platforms like Airbnb, the individual responded, “You’re taking time from town business to get on the Internet?”

“This is town business,” replied Corey.

Corey explained that the ordinance would include an affidavit, which meant she wouldn’t need to enter a rental property for an inspection. She listed several standards that people would need to sign off on. “This is an honor system with a twist. Your affidavit has to be notarized,” added Moderator Ted Baker.

Attorney Jarod Crockett said the ordinance could cause the town’s economy to stagnate.

“Jared, I’ll be honest with you,” Corey responded, “I could care less. I don’t care that we build homes for $100,000 or $2M … the cost of a home has no bearing on what I do for a living… I do see that there’s a need for this. We don’t want to alienate our visitors. I love the fact that Newry is this beautiful and everyone wants to come here.”

Next is for the Newry Select Board to decide if the ordinance should go forward. If they agree, a public hearing for residents will follow. Voters will have the final word at town meeting on May 13.