Cannabis survey coming with Woolwich tax bills

Wed, 02/20/2019 - 8:30am

Woolwich officials hope a survey will give them an idea if the town wants to opt in to Maine’s cannabis industry. On Tuesday night, the select board approved the survey the planning board developed. It will be included with property tax bills mailed to residents this week.

“It’s just to get an idea how the town may want to proceed going forward,” said Planning Board Chairman Gregg Buczkowski. The planning board will compile the results, he said.

To be determined is whether or not the town will support the licensing and sale of recreational marijuana, designate where and limit the number of establishments.

“Should recreational marijuana retail stores have restrictions/requirements for operation imposed beyond the state and federal requirements, or current town zoning ordinances for businesses," the survey asks.

The select board is also considering proposing a six-month marijuana moratorium for voters to consider at the annual town meeting in May. The moratorium would allow time for the state to come up with more regulations.

The last three survey questions ask residents if they’d consider volunteering for a committee to help craft cannabis-related ordinances. Surveys should be returned by April 19.

The select board will meet with EMS Director Brian Carlton and Fire Chief Mike Demers to discuss ambulance service options from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, March. 4. Carlton said he’d have prices for a new ambulance.

A second informational hearing to address the ambulance service is planned for 6 p.m. March 27 in the Woolwich Central School cafeteria. The board asked Carlton and Demers to pare their proposals for 24/7 ambulance coverage down to two options.

Carlton noted the ambulance department had responded to 13 of 14 ambulance calls over the previous two weeks.

Selectman Allison Hepler said the Communication Committee is looking into finding a new vender to maintain and support the town’s website.

Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert said he’d recently issued a permit for the construction of a new home. He noted the past year was a busy one for new home construction.

The board voted to hire F.B. Environmental of Portland to conduct required ground water testing at the former landfill. The firm submitted the lowest bid, $6,190.