About 30 years ago the town of Mount Desert installed four sewer treatment plants, as required by government mandate. These installations were to treat the wastewater entering the public sewers in the villages of Otter Creek, Seal Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Somesville. In order to fund the operation, maintenance and interest on borrowed funds, the board of selectmen at that time chose to seek the necessary revenue via the property tax rather than a user fee. The choice was not determined by public vote.

The selectmen, by state law, are responsible for setting fees. Speculation would lead one to believe there were two reasons for not establishing a user fee. First, a problem of properly and fairly determining and administering such a fee. Second, since the expensive, high-valued properties of the summer people yielded the majority of property tax revenue, let their taxes carry the burden of the sewer system expenses.

This decision was morally wrong. It forced all the people with residences in Hall Quarry, Pretty Marsh, Oak Hill, Indian Point, Somes Sound, Long Pond and Echo Lake, who are all on septic systems, to subsidize with their tax dollars a public sewer system they never will be able to enter.

Within the last 10 to 15 years, two attempts have been made to establish a sewer user fee. Each time the board of selectmen brought the issue before the voting public, apparently unaware it was their legal duty to establish the fee. Each time selfish business owners and resident sewer users, who obviously didn’t mind taking advantage of their fellow citizens, voted it down.

On March 3, the polls will be open for the resident public to vote by secret ballot for a selectman and for a revised sewer ordinance. Section 10 clearly specifies a user fee. The fee is to provide funding for the operation and general maintenance of sewer systems. Capital costs, major items such as pumps and motors, plus interest charges on borrowed bond funds will still be borne by all taxpayers.

To all those residents on septic systems who have been taken advantage of over the last 30 years and to all those on public sewers who agree it is morally right to do, go to the polls and vote to approve the revised sewer ordinance.

George F. Peckham Jr.

Mount Desert