A second Woolwich business selling marijuana products for recreational use moved closer to approval after the select board tentatively set a required public hearing. Selectmen told Jan Martin of Boothbay  they would hold the hearing Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. provided he submit a required payment of $1,500, $500 to cover the cost of the town’s site plan review and $1,000 required for cannabis-related businesses.

Town Administrator Kim Dalton told Wiscasset Newspaper Martin paid his application fee Thursday, Feb. 16, the morning after the select board met. The board had stipulated the payment as a condition of finalizing the hearing date. The hearing will take place on the second floor of the town office.

Martin said he owns a chain of cannabis stores called Highly Cannaco, in Boothbay, Auburn and South Portland. He has another store under construction in Brunswick. The store he wants to open in Woolwich would be in the former Baker Auto Sales, a one-story building on Route 1. He told the board he is leasing the property from Dennis Baker. Martin provided the board with sketches. He said he plans improvements to the building and grounds when his application receives final approval.

“What’s your timeframe for opening,” Selectman Jason Shaw asked.

“We hope to be up and running by June,” Martin replied. He added, it depended on his contractor’s schedule.

Chair David King Sr. told Martin they would consider his application complete upon payment of the required fees. The planning board previously turned over Martin’s paperwork to the town’s code enforcement officer for review.

Woolwich has three other cannabis-related businesses, all on Route 1 within a mile of one another in the town’s business district.

Woolwich will soon have a Public Safety Advisory Committee to act as sounding board for first responders and public safety issues. The group will examine ideas and offer suggestions, and will not be directly involved in development of the fire/EMS budget process. “It will give us a chance to share ideas, share the benefits of one proposal over another,” commented Brian Carlton, EMS director.

Following the meeting, Selectman Tommy Davis was asked his thoughts on the committee. In an email to Wiscasset Newspaper, he wrote: “In practice, I foresee this committee serving as a sounding board for both the select board and the Fire/EMS departments, to help develop sensible public safety policy. I would hope to attract subject matter experts to this committee, such as people experienced in health care, child care, and law enforcement. Involving residents in this work will add more of a citizen’s voice to the process of addressing public safety matters, and assist in the planning of public safety programs and services.  The charter stipulates that the committee members would be from outside of the Fire/EMS departments, so as to make sure we are bringing a ‘civilian’ voice to the table,” wrote Davis. The committee will have five members including one representing the fire and ambulance departments.

Carlton noted first responders would undergo Advanced CPR training the week of Feb. 20. Since the last select board meeting, the ambulance made 20 calls, including 16 that were 911 emergencies, he said.

The board authorized Fire Chief Shaun Merrill to spend $2,397 to have an air compressor rebuilt. Merrill said the compressor was 20 years old and will eventually need replacing. The cost to buy a new compressor was estimated at $26,000.

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw said recent mild weather has prompted him to post town roads to heavy loads. Shaw is recommending strict enforcement especially on unpaved roads. Trucks that exceed a gross weight of 23,000 pounds are not permitted to travel on these roads regardless of the temperature, until the posting period is lifted, typically in mid-April. Road use may be granted but requires permission in advance from the road commissioner; call 443-3932 for more information.