Gardiner elected officials on Wednesday will consider what commercial marijuana enterprises to allow within city limits once the state of Maine sets the up the structure for the marijuana market.

Councilors will also consider extending the temporary ban on allowing any of those businesses in Gardiner until the state has completed its work, and it’s unclear when that will be.

The Gardiner City Council meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council chamber at 6 Church St.

On Monday, Gov. Paul LePage said Monday he plans to veto a recreational marijuana bill that would establish the state’s recreational market for marijuana. The bill passed both chambers of the Maine Legislature last week with enough votes to override a gubernatorial veto.

Voters in Maine made possessing and using limited amounts of pot legal for adults over age 21 in the state. The ballot question they approved paved the way for a variety of pot-related commercial enterprises to start up, once a state licensing structure and rules are in place. Cities and towns have been free to restrict where pot-related businesses can go and some, like Pittston, have banned them outright.

Following the November 2016 vote, Gardiner voted to impose a temporary ban on marijuana businesses and appointed a Marijuana Task Force to examine whether and where such businesses could go inside city limits. The committee recommended to allow everything but marijuana social clubs.

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On Wednesday, the City Council will vote on those recommendations as well as hold a public hearing and vote on the first read of extending the moratorium for six more months.

District 1 City Councilor Terry Berry, who served as chairman of the task force, said the status of the legislature’s work has been in the background as the task force crafted its recommendations.

“It is law, but you can’t get a license to do anything,” Berry said Monday. We’re just trying to be out in front of this process with the state.”

He said he’s aware that people are waiting to get started with marijuana-related business in Gardiner and elsewhere, but can do nothing until the state acts.

“We’re trying to be proactive rather than reactive,” he said.

City elected officials are also expected to:

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• Hold an executive session at the start of the meeting to discuss a real estate matter;

• Vote to accept an offer on a lot in the Libby Hill Business Park;

• Discuss property taxes with Johnson Hall executive director Mike Miclon;

• Consider a request for additional funding from Gardiner Main Street;

• Continue budget review regarding Public Works, Buildings and Grounds, Tax Increment Financing Districts and community and social services budget;

• Accept a bid on 28 Spring St.;

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• Consider a special event permit for the Wall that Heals, July 19-22, at the Gardiner Common;

• Consider a special event permit for the Johnson Hall Free Waterfront Concerts;

• Consider a special event permit for the Memorial Day Parade, scheduled for 10 a.m., on May 28;

• Consider special event permits for three Artwalk Gardiner events, on May 4, Aug. 3 and Dec. 7;

• Hold a public hearing and vote on the first reading to approve issuing bonds to pay for upgrades to the radio tower at 78 Libby Hill Road;

• Approve City Council minutes.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ


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