Due to a lack of guidance from the state and public confusion, the Select Board voted to reconsider their decision of favorable action regarding the seasonal community designation.

The seasonal community designation will still be on the Town Meeting agenda.

Part of the confusion amongst the public has to do with the exact definition of what it means to be a seasonal community.

According to state legislation, the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities can designate a municipality as a seasonal community based on five factors: A high rate of short term rentals relative to the overall housing inventory of a municipality: A significant population increase because of seasonal visitors: A high disparity between a municipality’s median income and median home price: The percentage of housing in a municipality that is used solely for seasonal, occasional or recreational use: High fluctuations in employment in the town.

According to Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside, the population in town "essentially doubles in the summer time."

During the meeting, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan explained that if the town was deemed a seasonal community, not every rental property in town would become a year-round rental. If landlords wanted, they could seek a designation to make their property a year-round rental.

Landlords would still have the option to rent a space out seasonally.

The town is seeking the designation to help current Wareham residents stay in Wareham.

"I firmly believe the people who live in Wareham today and who have lived here for generations should be able to afford to live here," said Whiteside. "I don't want to see people not be able to live in this community because it is so attractive."