City councilors tonight will consider placing a six-month moratorium on accepting applications for marijuana-related facilities in the city.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of The Center downtown.
Councilor Mary-Anne Beal, D-Ward 2, requested the moratorium question be placed on the agenda. The council must take three votes on the ordinance and may take no more than two votes tonight.
The proposal says the possible location of a marijuana-related facility in the city raises legitimate questions and concerns about compatibility with residential, commercial and industrial zones and the possibility of the illicit sale of marijuana and associated criminal activity that could target such a facility.
The Police Department already is operating at maximum capacity and a moratorium is necessary to prevent overburdening police, the ordinance says.
The city's existing ordinances are inadequate to prevent serious public harm in the city, and a moratorium would give the city time to develop appropriate regulations, it says.
The moratorium request is in response to a proposal to open a marijuana dispensary in the former KFC on Water Street, across from the Hathaway Creative Center.
Mayor Paul LePage said Monday that he supports a moratorium and agrees with Beal 100 percent.
"I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling about the marijuana dispensary in the heart of our drug neighborhood," he said. "I think we've got to look at this very carefully."
Police Chief Joseph Massey said he would rather not have a marijuana dispensary in the city.
"We have a methadone clinic, and as police chief concerned about public safety, I think those types of businesses are counterproductive to efforts of the city to have a vibrant, healthy, and attractive and safe community to live and work in," Massey said.
Efforts to improve the quality of life in the city's South End have been ongoing and successful, he said, and he worries about people coming into the city to buy marijuana, people driving while under the influence, and about other potential problems.
"I'm concerned that local drug dealers are going to compete with this dispensary -- lower their prices," he said.
In other matters tonight, City Manager Michael Roy said that he plans to introduce a discussion about how best to give the Police Department the space it needs.
The Opera House plans to build an addition to its facility which opens up the opportunity for the Police Department to possibly receive an addition on the ground level, he said.
"I'm not sure there would be adequate square-footage for what the Police Department currently needs to do but I think it prudent to examine it," he said.
Roy said he thinks a committee should be formed to look at the matter, as the Police Department needs more space.
"It needs a sally port -- an under-cover area where vehicles can come in and people under arrest can be brought in a safe and controlled way," he said.
The department also needs a more adequate booking, dispatch and reception area, he said.
"I don't know if expanding this building could meet those needs or not," he said.
LePage said he thinks the fire station should be converted into a public safety building and the Police Department should be moved there.
"I just think we've got to be realistic," he said. "We have a $5 million fire house and there's plenty of room there. Ever since I've been mayor I've been saying that. It's the most realistic plan."
LePage said the high school is facing a $15 million renovation project and the city has to decide if it wants to work on the police station issue or fix the high school.
"We can't do both," he said. "It's not the time to be doing this."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Morning Sentinel
Author: Amy Calder
Copyright: 2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of The Center downtown.
Councilor Mary-Anne Beal, D-Ward 2, requested the moratorium question be placed on the agenda. The council must take three votes on the ordinance and may take no more than two votes tonight.
The proposal says the possible location of a marijuana-related facility in the city raises legitimate questions and concerns about compatibility with residential, commercial and industrial zones and the possibility of the illicit sale of marijuana and associated criminal activity that could target such a facility.
The Police Department already is operating at maximum capacity and a moratorium is necessary to prevent overburdening police, the ordinance says.
The city's existing ordinances are inadequate to prevent serious public harm in the city, and a moratorium would give the city time to develop appropriate regulations, it says.
The moratorium request is in response to a proposal to open a marijuana dispensary in the former KFC on Water Street, across from the Hathaway Creative Center.
Mayor Paul LePage said Monday that he supports a moratorium and agrees with Beal 100 percent.
"I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling about the marijuana dispensary in the heart of our drug neighborhood," he said. "I think we've got to look at this very carefully."
Police Chief Joseph Massey said he would rather not have a marijuana dispensary in the city.
"We have a methadone clinic, and as police chief concerned about public safety, I think those types of businesses are counterproductive to efforts of the city to have a vibrant, healthy, and attractive and safe community to live and work in," Massey said.
Efforts to improve the quality of life in the city's South End have been ongoing and successful, he said, and he worries about people coming into the city to buy marijuana, people driving while under the influence, and about other potential problems.
"I'm concerned that local drug dealers are going to compete with this dispensary -- lower their prices," he said.
In other matters tonight, City Manager Michael Roy said that he plans to introduce a discussion about how best to give the Police Department the space it needs.
The Opera House plans to build an addition to its facility which opens up the opportunity for the Police Department to possibly receive an addition on the ground level, he said.
"I'm not sure there would be adequate square-footage for what the Police Department currently needs to do but I think it prudent to examine it," he said.
Roy said he thinks a committee should be formed to look at the matter, as the Police Department needs more space.
"It needs a sally port -- an under-cover area where vehicles can come in and people under arrest can be brought in a safe and controlled way," he said.
The department also needs a more adequate booking, dispatch and reception area, he said.
"I don't know if expanding this building could meet those needs or not," he said.
LePage said he thinks the fire station should be converted into a public safety building and the Police Department should be moved there.
"I just think we've got to be realistic," he said. "We have a $5 million fire house and there's plenty of room there. Ever since I've been mayor I've been saying that. It's the most realistic plan."
LePage said the high school is facing a $15 million renovation project and the city has to decide if it wants to work on the police station issue or fix the high school.
"We can't do both," he said. "It's not the time to be doing this."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Morning Sentinel
Author: Amy Calder
Copyright: 2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
