Representatives of Edgecomb’s planning board met with selectmen Monday, Dec. 17 to discuss the town’s options concerning marijuana.

Planning board members David Nutt, Barry Hathorne and Rebecca Graham talked about the board’s work on implementing recreational marijuana in Edgecomb.

Edgecomb residents approved a moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses in January.

In November 2016 on a statewide marijuana question, Edgecomb voters favored legalizing the retail sale of marijuana and Maine voters approved the question. Since then, the state and municipalities have wrestled with ways to implement the sales.

As a result, during the summer of 2017 the town’s ordinance committee sent a survey to 650 residents. Responses for categories were cultivation 42 percent in favor, testing 39.6 percent in favor, manufacturing ( 40.9 percent in favor, retail sales 40 percent and none of the above 52 percent. A category for social clubs had been included but was struck down by the legislature.

Planning board members discussed the results Monday and indicated 34 percent of residents returned completed surveys. More than half (52 percent) of those responding preferred “none of the above” when it came to having marijuana retail sales in Edgecomb.

Comments on the surveys included “I do not want this in my town at all,” and “Ban all –let other towns handle.”

“We don’t have to do anything,” Graham reminded selectmen.

Nutt believes the question should go to voters at the annual town meeting with an up or down vote on four aspects of legalized marijuana: retail sales, growing, testing and extraction.

Planning board members and selectmen felt the state would probably not have regulators in place by the time of the 2019 town meeting. They discussed the need for a timeline and the concern that the regulatory burden falls on Edgecomb.

“We can be looking ahead but should now be looking for information from other towns,” Graham suggested.

Also Monday, Jon Pottle of Eaton Peabody presented a draft amendment which would allow the town to use tax increment financing (TIF) funds to buy a fire truck. Voters approved the purchase in June.

Pottle encouraged selectmen to consider a 30-year term for the TIF, saying that easing the restriction would allow more flexibility for the town. He also advised that extending the term to 30 years would mean more funds would be available.

Town Clerk Claudia Coffin asked for clarification on how TIF revenues can be spent. Pottle said they can be spent on certain community-wide projects but others have to be more district-focused.

In addition to the draft amendment, Pottle included a proposed investment plan. He asked selectmen and Coffin to review the items to see what should be added or removed.

Chair Jack Sarmanian agreed to work with Pottle on the draft and a public hearing will be scheduled to present its contents to Edgecomb residents.

Selectmen also approved the appointments of Coffin for three years as Registrar of Voters, Roland Abbott as Deputy EMA Director and Curt Crosby as the town’s representative to the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District board for three years.

Due to the upcoming holidays, selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the town office.