Waterville city councilors voted Tuesday not to renew a retail marijuana license for the owner of Bobby Buds at 109 College Ave. following numerous complaints from neighbors. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file

WATERVILLE — The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a request to renew a retail marijuana license for a shop on College Avenue after hearing complaints alleging loud music and public disturbances, harassment and abusive language at the business.

Bobby Buds licensee Jennifer Dunham did not attend Tuesday’s meeting but her husband, who runs the 109 College Ave. shop, was there and urged the council to approve the license renewal.

“I don’t understand how it came this far,” Robert Dunham said. “We didn’t break any laws or ordinances.”

But Debra Pullen, who lives in an apartment on nearby Vigue Street, spoke at length about how he blasts music from his car to irritate neighbors who have complained about the disruptions from his business.

“I’m in my apartment and my ears are throbbing, OK?” Pullen told councilors.

She said her parents are in their 80s and visit her but can’t stay because of the loud music.

“He’s using his music to blast them (neighbors) and it’s affecting everyone in the neighborhood, in the community,” Pullen said.

Councilor Ken Gagnon, D-Ward 5, asked Dunham if he and the neighbors had gotten together since the Sept. 3 council meeting to try to resolve the problem. Dunham said he tried but people wouldn’t meet with him.

Gagnon said he wanted to give them an opportunity to talk about the situation. After listening to Pullen, Gagnon said he had heard enough. Council Chairwoman Rebecca Green, D-Ward 4, said she was concerned about the pattern with the business not heeding requests to turn down the music. She also said she was concerned that the licensee, Jennifer Dunham, was not at the meeting.

“It seems like you’re still operating the business so I’m going to vote ‘no’ on this one,” Green said, directing her comment to Robert Dunham.

The council voted 6-0 against license renewal. On Sept. 3, councilors voted to reject a request to renew the license, but later in the meeting, 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 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.”

Jane Petit, who lives on nearby Vigue Street, told councilors Sept. 3 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.

Petit and her husband, Joshua Birden, provided city officials with a detailed timeline of events that occurred at the business over the last 18 months.

Sgt. Haley Fleming of the Waterville Police Department told the council Sept. 3 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.

The state license for Bobby Buds 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.

Police Chief Bill Bonney did not approve of renewing the license and 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.

A memorandum from Dubois to Mayor Mike Morris and councilors states Jennifer Dunham had submitted a caregiver retail store local authorization form that must be approved by municipal officers and forwarded to the Office of Cannabis Policy before 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.