Dear Editor:

Hospitality was never a threat in the harbor. The existing east side zoning restrictions were invoked 30 years ago to stop one thing only: the loss of our commercial waterfront, including hospitality, to private homes (including condos). The fastest method at hand was a “marine use only” lock down. It stopped condos but it also trapped the existing hotels and restaurants in a “non-conforming” time-warp discouraging investment. It did not stop harbor-front conversions of commercial property to single family residences. It so weakened businesses at the economic heart of our community that it exposed every taxpayer to the formation of non-profits that would permanently remove key commercial properties like Captain Fish Motel from the tax rolls, regardless of income consequences, job loss, or the will of the voter.

Voting “Yes” on articles 3, 4 and 5 on the Boothbay Harbor town warrant on or before May 3 returns those taxpaying hotels and restaurants to their legitimate status. It also preserves working waterfront on two adjoining properties. The proposal also adopts state shoreland zoning standards, enables safety and accessibility standards, and adds new view corridors.

Incredibly, not all candidates running for town selectmen agree. More troubling, they support organizations and neighbors that have worked very hard to keep a real choice, and the control of the town’s future, out of voter’s hands for over 18 months. Thankfully, two candidates actually want your vote now and will respect your right to vote when elected: Rosemary V. Bourette and Tom Minerich. To them “working together” is more than just a campaign slogan. They deserve your vote too.

Tom Myette

Boothbay Harbor taxpayer