The Orleans Citizens Forum will host a presentation on three key articles to be voted on at the Orleans special Town meeting on Monday October 17, 2022, including:

• Proposed new rules on short-term rentals (Article 19)
• A home rule petition from the Town to the State seeking authority to regulate the use of fertilizer in Orleans (Article 32)
• Interim requirements for management of the Town-owned Governor Prence property. (Article 15)

Andrea Reed, Select Board Chair, will address Article 19 that would require every owner of a property used for short-term rentals to register the property with the Board of Health.

Michael Herman, Select Board Vice-Chair, will speak to Article 32 which, if passed, would result in a Home Rule Petition to the State Legislature to allow the Town to develop a bylaw that could result in restricting or prohibiting the application of fertilizer in Orleans, with the goal to reduce the adverse impacts of fertilizer on water quality.

John Sargent, Chair of the Governor Prence Planning Committee, will explain Article 15 which seeks additional funds for the Governor Prence property to cover annual costs of maintenance and insurance due to new financial needs that have been identified through the planning process to repurpose the property

A representative of the Finance Committee is expected to comment on the financial implications of the articles.

Alan McClennan will moderate the Forum.

Following the presentations there will be time for questions from the audience.

Please attend to discuss these issues that are of vital importance to the future of Orleans