Camden Select Board Reviews Harbor Access, School Lease, Fees on Feb 3 

Key Points

• The Camden Select Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Camden, Maine, with a comprehensive agenda.
• Surveyor Mark Ingraham from Ingraham Land Consulting, Inc., will present his report on public access points to Camden Harbor and Shermans Cove, covering sites at Beacon Avenue, Bay Road, Eaton Avenue, Harbor Road, Marine Avenue, Norumbega Drive, and Shermans Point Road.
• The report, including historical background, surveys, and sketches, is available on the Camden website’s Harbor Access Points Survey page at https://www.camdenmaine.gov/departments/parks___recreation/harbor_acess_points_survey.php.
• The board will consider a consent agreement with Harbor House Condominiums following a violation notice issued on October 22, 2025, for unauthorised work in the intertidal zone beyond permitted scope.
• The violation involved clearing rocks in the intertidal zone for site access and placing blasted ledge in the tidal area on a 45-degree slope, which required permits from Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Army Corps of Engineers, and the town.
• Harbor House Condominiums also damaged town-owned property at Steamboat Landing.
• The consent agreement proposes a $7,750 fine to the town, with Harbor House having acknowledged violations, stopped work, and initiated corrective actions, as noted in a premeeting memo by Camden Planning and Development Director Jeremy Martin.
• The board will address a dispute over the Elm Street School lease with Children’s House Montessori School, which was renegotiated last August 2025 for five years at $20,000 annual rent payable quarterly, following its return from School Administrative District 28 (SAD 28) after 22 years.
• Disputes centre on lease terms, expenses for downspouts, furnace, and other issues, with emails, the current lease, and prior SAD 28 lease included in the premeeting packet at https://cms8.revize.com/revize/camdenmaine/Select%20Board%20Packet%2002.03.26.pdf.
• Proposed updates to town fees include changes to short-term rental charges, replacing a ladder based on residential, seasonal, or commercial use with a new schedule based on the number of bedrooms.
• The board will accept a letter from Rockport terminating the joint Camden-Rockport police chief position.
• The meeting will conclude with an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.

Camden, Maine (North London News) February 2, 2026. The Camden Select Board is set to tackle a packed agenda on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, covering critical issues from public harbour access reviews to lease disputes, town fee adjustments, and the termination of a shared police chief role with Rockport. Key items include surveyor Mark Ingraham’s detailed report on waterfront access points, a consent agreement imposing a $7,750 fine on Harbor House Condominiums for shoreland violations, ongoing tensions over the Elm Street School lease with Children’s House Montessori School, proposed bedroom-based fees for short-term rentals, and acceptance of Rockport’s letter ending the joint police chief position, before moving into a closed executive session on personnel matters.

What Public Access Points Are Under Review at Camden Harbor and Shermans Cove?

The spotlight falls on public access to Camden Harbor and Shermans Cove, with surveyor Mark Ingraham of Ingraham Land Consulting, Inc., presenting his comprehensive report. Retained by the town last autumn, Ingraham reviewed deeds, plans, town records, conducted fieldwork, and analysed access at Beacon Avenue, Bay Road, Eaton Avenue, Harbor Road, Marine Avenue, Norumbega Drive, and Shermans Point Road. His findings, alongside historical background, surveys, and sketches, are hosted on the dedicated Camden website page titled “Harbor Access Points Survey” at https://www.camdenmaine.gov/departments/parks___recreation/harbor_acess_points_survey.php, aimed at providing “background information, governing documents, and reference materials related to the ownership, boundaries, and permitted use of this area.” The full report is downloadable via https://cms8.revize.com/revize/camdenmaine/Mark%20W.%20Ingraham%202026%20Report%20Harbor%20Access.pdf.

This review underscores longstanding community interests in maintaining open waterfront access amid development pressures. Ingraham’s work promises clarity on legal rights and boundaries, potentially shaping future policies. Residents and stakeholders anticipate how the board responds to these insights.

Why Is the Consent Agreement with Harbor House Condominiums on the Agenda?

A violation notice issued by Camden on October 22, 2025, to Harbor House Condominiums at the end of Sea Street has led to this consent agreement consideration. The notice addressed work in the intertidal zone exceeding issued permits, originally intended to reset seawall stones displaced by January 2024 storms. As detailed in the premeeting memo from Camden Planning and Development Director Jeremy Martin, available at https://cms8.revize.com/revize/camdenmaine/Select%20Board%20Packet%2002.03.26.pdf,

“Upon inspection it was determined that an area of the intertidal zone was cleared of rocks apparently in order to build access to the site, where a large pile of what appeared to be blasted ledge was placed in the tidal area and on what appeared to be a 45-degree slope from the tidal area up onto the existing seawall.”

Martin further noted, “Again, the placement of this rock was not permitted as the permits were for resetting stones that were displaced by storm events. The originally permitted work was exempt from Maine Department of Environmental Protection permitting. The work that was done was not exempt and would require full permits from the Maine DEP and the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as additional town permitting.” The condominium owners also damaged town-owned property at Steamboat Landing. According to Martin’s memo, Harbor House “quickly acknowledged its violations, stopped work and initiated corrective action.” The proposed agreement stipulates a $7,750 fine paid to the town, balancing enforcement with resolution.

This case highlights regulatory challenges in coastal zones, where storm recovery can blur into unpermitted alterations. The board’s decision could set precedents for similar violations.

What Corrective Actions Have Harbor House Taken?

Harbor House Condominiums acted swiftly post-violation notice, as per Jeremy Martin’s memo. They acknowledged the issues, halted operations, and began remedies, though specifics beyond cessation remain in the agreement details. The $7,750 penalty reflects both the breach’s scope and cooperative response, avoiding protracted litigation.

What Disputes Surround the Elm Street School Lease?

The historic Elm Street School, leased by Children’s House Montessori School for 22 years under School Administrative District 28 (SAD 28), returned to town ownership when SAD 28 relinquished it. The town and school renegotiated a new five-year lease signed last August 2025, with an annual rental of $20,000 payable quarterly. Now, disputes have arisen over terms and expenses, including downspouts and the furnace.

The premeeting packet at https://cms8.revize.com/revize/camdenmaine/Select%20Board%20Packet%2002.03.26.pdf includes exchanged emails between the Camden Town Office and school leadership, plus copies of the current lease and the prior SAD 28 agreement. These documents reveal friction points in maintenance responsibilities and cost allocations. The board’s review seeks amicable resolution for this community asset.

Long-term tenants like the Montessori School play vital roles in preserving historic buildings while serving families. Clarity on lease obligations could prevent future conflicts.

How Will Town Fees Change, Especially for Short-Term Rentals?

Camden proposes revisions to its fee schedule, including hikes to existing charges and a revamped system for short-term rentals. Currently tiered by residential, seasonal, or commercial status, the new approach bases fees on bedroom count, simplifying administration amid booming tourism.

While a specific chart was referenced in the original coverage, it outlines scalable charges to reflect property scale fairly. These updates aim to generate revenue for services without overburdening smaller operators. Public input during the meeting could refine the schedule.

What Does Rockport’s Letter Mean for the Police Chief Position?

Rockport’s letter formally terminates the joint Camden-Rockport police chief position, ending a shared arrangement. The Select Board will accept this, prompting discussions on transition, costs, and future policing models. This shift may lead to independent hires or regional alternatives.

Shared services have long aimed at efficiency in small towns; dissolution signals evolving priorities. Impacts on operations and budgets warrant close scrutiny.

What Personnel Matter Will Enter Executive Session?

To conclude, the board enters executive session for a personnel matter, shielded from public view per legal protocols. Details remain confidential, focusing on sensitive employment issues. Outcomes, if any, will follow in subsequent public updates.