There will be no town marijuana moratorium in Edgecomb, at least for now. Selectmen removed a proposed town meeting warrant article restricting legal uses for recreational marijuana. On April 24, selectmen unanimously approved removing the article from the May warrant based on a planning board recommendation.

On April 20, the planning board unanimously voted to send a letter requesting the article’s removal. Last week, Planning Board Chairman Jack French reported several residents believe a local moratorium would put those seeking state licenses to grow retail marijuana commercially at a disadvantage. Planning board members also didn’t see the advantage of a town moratorium when the state already had one in effect. Several residents also contacted town officials about a town moratorium putting those seeking a state license to grow retail marijuana at a disadvantage. If the town adopted a six-month ban and selectmen extended it another six, the ban would last until May 2018, making Edgecomb residents ineligible for a license next February when the state plans on distributing a limited number of licenses.

On April 24, selectmen decided a town moratorium in conjunction with the state’s would be confusing and didn’t provide any greater protection in regulating legalized use.  ”We felt the timing was bad,” said Selectman Ted Hugger regarding the board’s decision. “There is still a lot of confusion regarding legalized marijuana. By not enacting a moratorium now, it gives us time to figure out what the state is going to do.”

The state moratorium permits recreational use for adults over 21 years old, possession of 2.5 ounces of pot, and growing their own marijuana. The moratorium prohibits selling and growing retail marijuana.

If conditions warrant, selectmen may resurrect the proposed moratorium for the November election, according to Hugger.

In other action, Selectman Mike Smith reported the owners of the bed frame house on Route 1 are seeking options to remove the dilapidated building. The property is owned by Arthur and Crystal Cyr of Burnham. The couple contacted Fire Chief Roy Potter about burning the structure.

“There will be no controlled burning on Route 1,” Potter said during the meeting.. Smith added the Cyrs also had contacted local contractors about disassembling the building.

“He’s (Arthur Cyr) contacted Stan (Waltz, code enforcement officer) and brought up a couple ideas about the building’s demise. He understands the situation and is working towards a resolution,” Smith said.

Selectmen also received a report about a meeting between town officials and Maine Forest Service this month. Town and MFS officials discussed the Schmid Preserve’s road conditions. Smith, Potter and Schmid Preserve trustees discussed the preserve’s road condition with Mike Skillings of the state forest service. The discussion focused on the road’s overall condition and the town’s ability to send emergency vehicles into the preserve.

“It resulted in a real understanding about the roads’ condition. They are eroding,” Smith said. “We all agreed during a heavy duty washout it’s difficult getting heavy duty equipment down there for removing an injured person. This is something needing more discussion in the next budget cycle.”

Selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m., Monday, May 8 in the municipal building.