I am writing in support of Article 11 on the Town of Rockport's referendum ballot which accepts Hawthorne Drive and Bayberry Lane as town roads. 

This article is the end of a long discussion with property owners, the Select Board, town department heads, SAD 28/Five Towns CSD, and more. You see, unlike the subdivision roads many of us are used to (which extend deep into the woods and initially serving a house or two) Hawthorne Drive and Bayberry Lane are subdivision roads which connect two other town roads off of Old County Road (Winding Way and Ashley Terrace). The ability to connect these town roads has been acknowledged as incredibly necessary by Rockport's fire chief, police chief, and public works department.  Just yesterday, a public works truck and a cruiser cut through to travel to Winding Way. Never mind the constant use of the road by residents who do not live on Hawthorne, but are merely traveling through on their way to Rockland or Camden. It just makes sense. 

Secondly, the ability to utilize this stretch of road for the school bus is of crucial importance not only to my family, but to families of the nearly 30 school aged children who live in the neighborhood surrounding Hawthorne Drive. Due to its current status as a private road, the school bus was no longer able to travel over Hawthorne Drive which forced school children, including my own boys (aged 6 and 9), to get on the bus at the intersection with Old County Road. This was an unbelievably dangerous situation, but thanks to Superintendent Maria Libby and Rockport Town Manager Rick Bates, we were able to work out a safer outcome in the interim. However, this band-aid solution is still inadequate and seemingly foolish when a proper and wildly more efficient solution is available... using Hawthorne Drive. 

As a former member of the Rockport SelectBoard, I understand the needs to limit the growth of roads expenses, but the old ways of viewing the acceptance of roads need to go by the wayside. If Rockport wants to be a growing and dynamic community that attracts young families to come and live here, votes such as the one on Article 11 go a long way toward making it an affordable and logical choice. 

I hope you will join me and vote YES on Article 11. 

Jon Duke lives in Rockport