A camper is set up Wednesday on Heath Street in Oakland. Town officials are considering ordinance language on how long RVs may be occupied in town. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

OAKLAND — Town officials are discussing how to deal with the issue of people living long-term or permanently in recreational vehicles, campers and trailers designed for temporary living.

The Town Council on Wednesday night was scheduled, according to its agenda, to take a first vote on a proposed “camping vehicle temporary occupancy ordinance,” but councilors said they were not ready to do so. Instead, Council Chairman Mike Perkins said officials would take into consideration comments and opinions of people who spoke at the meeting in developing an ordinance.

Code Enforcement Officer Nathan Smart estimated there are between 12 and 30 such recreational vehicles, campers and trailers in town.

Smart said the draft ordinance officials looked at Wednesday night used content taken from other towns’ ordinances and did not include some information needed, such as penalties and state laws related to the issue. He said residents have complained to him about people renting or living in campers, but the town doesn’t have specific rules restricting that. He said people need to show they have proper septic disposal for RVs, campers and trailers, as they aren’t meant to be primary dwellings.

Town Manager Kelly Pinney-Michaud said officials must consider the health and safety of residents when developing an ordinance.

The draft says such recreational vehicles shall not be occupied for more than 120 cumulative days in a single year. An approved connection to a potable water supply and approved waste disposal system connection does not allow for longer-term occupancy as the draft is written.

If someone needs to stay in an RV for more than 120 days, they can send a written proposal to the town, according to the draft document.

Some residents objected to the draft language, saying housing is costly and a lot of people who work can’t afford to rent apartments and houses and their only option is to live in a recreational vehicle. Both Perkins and Smart emphasized that it was merely a draft and not final.

A camper is seen Wednesday at KMD Driving School in Oakland. Town officials are considering ordinance language on RVs used for long-term or permanent housing. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Smart said he found one camper that has a woodstove in it. Councilor David Groder, an Oakland firefighter who also is Augusta fire chief, said they aren’t built for such stoves.

“This is a noncompliant woodstove that creates a hazard to occupants,” he said.

He said a local life was lost to a camper fire and similar fires have occurred elsewhere.

“Once you’re modeling a unit like that for heating, you’re asking for trouble,” he said.

“And try getting a gurney in that door,” Smart added.

Resident Bradford Webb took issue with the town’s proposal to develop an ordinance, saying there are already state laws and codes regulating occupancy of recreational vehicles. He wondered aloud who would monitor people living in them and questioned if  the 120-day stipulation would apply to one occupant or if a person could stay there for 60 days and another person, for 60 days.

“I think the benefit behind it is, it gives the town teeth,” Groder said of an ordinance.

Smart agreed, saying he thinks it’s “much cleaner to have an ordinance” that would help streamline the legal process if an issue were to go court, for instance.

Resident Darrell Fotter said if there were 1,000 such campers on Main Street, that would be one thing, but that is not the case.

Perkins reiterated that the document is not final and officials are trying to determine how best to word it.

Resident and budget committee member Kelly Roderick said she is concerned about people who can’t afford to buy homes. She said she checked average home prices for Oakland and they run from $400,000 to more than $1 million. Renting a one-bedroom apartment is $2,000 and a studio, $900, she said.

“You’re going to have homeless people as a result of this,” Roderick said.

Perkins suggested Smart take information aired at Wednesday’s meeting and try to reconfigure the proposed ordinance.

“Because I have a lot of the same concerns,” Perkins said, adding that he sees a lot of homeless people in the area.