Waldoboro Selectman Katherine Winchenbach presents a citizen’s petition to prohibit recreational-marijuana businesses during the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, March 27. (Alexander Violo photo)
Waldoboro Selectman Katherine Winchenbach presented a citizen’s petition that proposes a prohibition of recreational-marijuana businesses to the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, March 27.
Winchenbach said she was addressing the board and presenting the petition as a citizen.
After her presentation, the selectmen voted to accept the petition. Voters will decide the matter at the annual town meeting by referendum June 12.
According to a statement from Winchenbach, about 275 registered voters signed the petition. She said Town Clerk Eileen Dondlinger reviewed and verified the signatures.
During her presentation, Winchenbach said the proposed ordinance would prohibit recreational-marijuana retail stores and retail social clubs, as well as commercial cultivation, manufacturing, and testing.
The ordinance would not impact medical marijuana, the private cultivation and use of recreational marijuana, or the ability of Waldoboro residents to purchase recreational-marijuana products in municipalities where it is legal to do so, according to the statement.
Waldoboro residents voted 50-7 to enact a marijuana moratorium at a special town meeting in January.
The town’s marijuana committee had recommended a permanent prohibition rather than a temporary moratorium, but the selectmen decided to pursue a moratorium, citing the potential for a prohibition to curtail future discussion on the matter.
Other business
Town Manager Julie Keizer informed the board of selectmen that the town’s solar array at the Waldoboro Transfer Station is up and running.
Keizer said there would be information posted in the town office indicating how much energy and money the town is saving through use of the solar array.
“It should be a significant impact on the town’s electrical bills in the future,” Keizer said.
Winchenbach asked when the town would announce the dedication of this year’s town report.
Chair Clinton Collamore said the dedication would be placed on the agenda for the board’s first April meeting.
