Farmington residents to vote on marijuana moratorium ordinance

FARMINGTON — Voters at Town Meeting on Monday will decide whether to approve a 2 percent pay raise for employees and approve a moratorium ordinance about marijuana-related businesses.

The business meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 127 Middle St. Voters will go to the polls at the center to elect a moderator at 8:45 a.m., followed by balloting for officers until 6 p.m.

Included in the warrant are articles asking for 2 percent pay raises for all full-time town employees. The town pays 80 percent of health insurance premiums for full-time employees and 55 percent of premiums for their dependents.

Voters will decide whether to approve an ordinance banning retail marijuana establishments, social clubs and new medical marijuana businesses for six months to give the town time to write rules governing those establishments.

The proposed budget stands at $5.63 million, which is $90,806 less than last year.

In separate articles, voters will be asked to adopt a resolution requesting that Franklin County commissioners restore funding to social service organizations and raise and appropriate $18,000 for agencies affected by the commissioners’ cuts last year.

Voters will be asked to accept Kashke Drive as a town road. Town Manager Richard Davis said the increased costs for maintenance already have been offset by the increase in property value when the road was paved.

Amendments to the town’s sign ordinance and its land use ordinance are being proposed. Additions to the sign ordinance include definitions for temporary business, campaign and public event signs and banners as well as the requirement that temporary advertising signs be on the business’s property. Changes are being requested in the exemptions and prohibited signs section. A complete list is included in the 2017 annual town report.

The addition of an odor nuisance control and abatement section to the land use ordinance also will be considered.

Code Enforcement Officer Stephen Kaiser said farmers using best management practices will be exempt. The new section provides a process to use when seeking compliance.

Copies of the amendment are available at the Town Office and will be at the Town Meeting.

In town elections, Selectman Matthew Smith is unopposed for a three-year term.

Regional School Unit 9 Director Iris Silverstein is being challenged by Nancy Porter for a three-year term. Heather Ahern Huish is unopposed in her bid for the two-year director’s seat vacated by Ryan Morgan.