Tisbury selectmen are once again considering new rules for short-term rentals ahead of this year’s town meeting.
If approved, the regulations would require anyone who rents their property to register with the town and pay a fee every three years. At their meeting Tuesday night, selectmen set the fee at $75. The aim, they say, is to ensure safe living conditions, prevent overcrowding,and establish a traceable record of who is sharing their home. Since last year, selectmen have stressed the initiative is not a money grab.
“It’s really about town safety and public health,” said selectman Melinda Loberg.
“You have a lot of these rentals that are advertising that they can accommodate more people than the board of health allows,” said fire chief John Schilling during discussion. “That’s a problem.”
According to the draft bylaw, the board of health would set maximum occupancy limits for houses based on wastewater capacity, and landlords would have to self-certify that their houses met safety requirements like adequate number of smoke detectors. Landlords would be issued a registration number and would be required to include that number in any advertisements of their rental. Homes, once registered, would be subject to inspection if, for example, their water bill didn’t match up with their reported occupancy, or if there was another red flag.
Selectmen tabled similar discussions last spring, citing lack of public discussion.
Town health agent Maura Valley said the board of health plans to hold a public discussion to answer questions about the proposed rules ahead of town meeting.
Tisbury is the first town on the Island to consider rental regulations. All eyes are on the statehouse, where laws are being drafted to regulate Airbnb and other short-term rental programs to level the playing field with inns and hotels.
“In the fall, the famous Airbnb bill will theoretically come out,” said selectman Tristan Israel. “We may have to reduce fees and all that if and when it gets passed.”
The draft bylaw says fees are subject to annual review by the selectmen.
The $75 proposed rate passed 2-0, with chairman Larry Gomez abstaining.
In other business, selectmen voted to increase parking fines for blocking a private driveway or roadway from $25 to $100, effective immediately.
Following a briefing from department of public works director Ray Tattersall, selectmen approved a new stop sign at Spring and William streets, and a crosswalk between the campground and the bus stop on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.
Selectmen had their first public discussion of this year’s town meeting warrant articles. Among those discussed were financing of a new town hall steeple and funds for the emergency communications center requested by the county sheriff.
There will also be a warrant article to purchase property to build town hall. Selectmen voted to approve a town hall building committee to assess needs for the new facility led by town clerk Hillary Conklin.
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