YORK, Maine — Town officials declared a civil emergency Thursday night, ordered the closure of many town-owned public spaces and prohibited most short-term housing rentals through the rest of the month in an effort to slow transmission of the coronavirus.
They also urged people who own homes in York but live elsewhere to stay in their primary residences rather than travel into the York community amid the pandemic.
Town Manager Steve Burns said the town cannot legally bar property owners from returning to their homes in York, so that section of the order is a recommendation that police cannot enforce.
"But it is a statement from the town that, if you’re not here year-round, please don’t come up here," Burns said.
York isn’t the first community along York County’s typically tourist-friendly coast to make clear that out-of-staters should stay away. Wells imposed a one-month ban on non-essential short-term rentals earlier this week and recommended in "the strongest possible terms" that owners and guests of second or seasonal homes in Wells remain in their primary residence.
Kennebunkport similarly issued a recommendation that would-be visitors and part-time residents refrain from coming to town, but Kennebunkport stopped short of banning short-term rentals. Town Manager Laurie Smith said she lacked the authority to impose such a ban without legislative authorization through a town meeting vote.
"To those coming here from out of state, you are not escaping the virus," Smith said. "It is here."
In York, the selectmen included several exemptions to their short-term rental ban. Health care workers fighting COVID-19, active duty military and their families, and people or households looking to isolate someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 are all exempt.
The selectmen also said people involved in a domestic violence situation or who feel unsafe in homes due to mental illness should also be exempt.
"We’re dealing with a lot of mental health issues and stressors (for residents)," said York Chief of Police Charles Szeniawski. "This exemption would give us a break while someone’s going through something bad or stressed out or having a psychotic break where someone needs to leave to be safe."
Szeniawski urged those who feel unsafe to seek help and shelter by calling the police or reaching out to Caring Unlimited, York County’s Domestic Violence Resource Center, for temporary housing assistance.
The York Community Services Association is also exempt from this order and is allowed to place individuals needing shelter into temporary housing through hotels.
The board additionally allowed short-term rentals for construction workers working on large-scale projects, such as the Piscataqua high-rise bridge project.
The municipal emergency declaration, which includes "stay at home" provisions for York residents, came two days after Gov. Janet Mills issued a statewide "stay healthy at home" order that prohibits Maine residents from traveling for reasons deemed non-essential.
The town’s closed popular town-owned spaces, including trails at Mount Agamenticus, Harbor Beach Road, and Sohier Park, the site of Nubble Point overlooking the famed Nubble Lighthouse.
Szeniawski said police are hoping to educate the public and receive voluntary compliance in return, rather than issue fines.
"We’re trying to curtail large crowds in public spaces, and prevent out-of-towners from doing day-trips up here," Szeniawski said.
"It’s not a lock down, you’re not in jail," he added. "You can still go out for essential services to pick up food, medicine."
"You can walk on long beach avenue, you can walk well-spaced around in your neighborhood. You can be in your yard," Szeniawski added. "We’re trying to prevent too many people in one place."
Shawn Sullivan and Steven Porter contributed to this report.
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