A dog walks Thursday near Bobby Buds at 109 College Ave. in Waterville. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

WATERVILLE — Complaints alleging loud public disturbances, harassment and abusive language at a marijuana shop on College Avenue prompted the Waterville City Council on Tuesday to reject a request to renew the business’s retail marijuana license.

Later in the meeting, councilors decided to reconsider the issue and voted to table it to Sept. 17.

Neighbors submitted a petition to councilors containing 11 signatures, asking that Bobby Buds at 109 College Ave. be blocked from doing business.

“This behavior is unacceptable and we believe that the presence of Bobby Buds is detrimental to the well-being of our neighborhood and community,” the petition reads. “We urge the appropriate authorities to take immediate action to protect our community.”

Jennifer Dunham is the licensee of the business. Her husband, Robert, spoke at length to councilors, urging them to renew the license.

“We’ve operated here years — years with no issues,” he said.

But Jane Petit, who lives on nearby Vigue Street, said that over the past several months, neighbors have experienced an increase in noise, harassment and domestic disturbances, in both frequency and intensity.

“This request is not made lightly. Our neighborhood has raised significant concerns regarding the impact of this business on our quality of life,” she said.

Sgt. Haley Fleming of the Waterville Police Department told the council that police received 12 calls about the business last year and 27 calls so far this year. He said the state business license to Robert Dunham was revoked and then transferred to his wife, Jennifer.

Robert Dunham said later that he was ignorant of the rules a year ago, and gifted the Office of Cannabis Policy something and tried to give it a card, which was not appropriate, and that is why his license was revoked.

The state license for Bobby Buds has expired and the state is waiting to consider renewal pending a council decision, according to City Clerk Patti Dubois, who said the license from the city expires in November.

Robert Dunham said sometimes it was his business that called police because people were in his parking lot who had no business being there. Officers show up when he calls and have the people leave but they drive around the block and return, he said.

“They come back and then the officers come back, serve them with trespassing. This is all a real thing that happened.”

He said his music sometimes gets a little loud but he has no problem turning it down. He said he has tried to meet with some neighbors to discuss issues but they refuse to meet with him.

Councilor Thomas Klepach, D-Ward 3, said he would loathe to suspend a business license without just cause but he is concerned about further conflict. Council Chairwoman Rebecca Green, D-Ward 4, said both sides have completely different perspectives on the conflict, which concerns her, as does the fact that police Chief Bill Bonney did not approve of renewing the license. Having the chief’s approval is a condition of renewal.

When asked about the loud music coming from his shop, Robert Dunham said it is intended to attract attention and stir up business. Other businesses do the same thing, he said.

“We want people to notice us,” he said, “and when it became a nuisance to somebody else, we stopped.”

Traffic on Thursday passes Bobby Buds at 109 College Ave. in Waterville. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Bonney said that, as always, police would defer to what the council decides and deal with whatever repercussions come from that.

“I would just say that I’ve never heard from this gentleman,” Bonney said of Robert Dunham. “I don’t believe that the major has.”

Bonney said if someone has an issue with how the department handles a situation, the correct process is to contact a sergeant and, if it is not resolved, the matter would go to the major and then to Bonney.

Green said she thought it would be beneficial for the council to discuss the matter further before making a decision, or issue a probationary license for two months to see how it goes.

“I’m not 100% sure that you can issue the state license on a lesser basis,” Dubois said. “I think it’s either a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down on a state license.”

Councilor Rien Finch, D-Ward 6, made a motion to table the matter until Sept. 17, but his motion failed 4-3. Then councilors rejected renewing the license, with three voting for renewal and four voting against.

Later in the meeting, councilors decided to reconsider the license renewal request and tabled discussion until Sept. 17.

A memorandum from Dubois to the mayor and council says Jennifer Dunham had submitted a caregiver retail store authorization form that must be approved by municipal officers and forwarded to the Office of Cannabis Policy prior to a state license being renewed.

Although Dubois has authority to approve such renewals without council consideration, she said she sent the matter to the council because of complaints raised and Bonney’s unwillingness to give approval. The same process is used when considering liquor license renewals when abutters raise complaints, she said.