Council takes next step in marijuana sales debate
The decision to sell marijuana and allow on-site consumption establishments in Norwich is still up in the air. Council members took an important next step in discerning public opinion and making their final vote. (Photo by Sarah Giglio)
NORWICH — The fate of marijuana sale and on-site consumption in Norwich took one step forward last night during the joint committee meeting.
Council members made the decision to present the topic at the upcoming common council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 21. This will give them the option to schedule a public hearing and make their final decision if necessary.
"My only concern still is that as each day passes, we draw closer to the sunset on any opportunity to pass a local law if we're going to," said Alderman Matthew Caldwell. "I want to make sure if we're going to adopt a local law before the end of this year, that we don't run out of time to also have a public hearing. Because that will be an important, if not required, piece of it."
A final decision must be made by December 31 of this year, but it becomes more complex than a simple yes or no.
The city has the choice of opting in to allowing sale and on-site consumption establishments in the city, or opt out. If they choose not to allow these establishments at this time, they can always repeal that decision later. However, if they opt in now, or make no decision thus automatically opting them in, there is no ability to go back on it in the future.
"It's a one shot deal," said Alderman Robert Jeffrey.
Council members are split, with some saying the tax revenue is an undeniable perk that should not be passed up. Others are concerned about the current lack of guidelines from the governor's office. However, Alderwoman Nancy Allaire informed the council that Governor Kathy Hochul has a commission in the works, which may bring forth more guidance in the near future.
"I just heard on the news tonight that they're doing a special session of the legislature, that Kathy Hochul called," she said. "There's nothing set yet right now, I think they don't know who's on the commission. Apparently she has some names that she wants to have approved in this special session."
But the window for making a decision is rapidly closing. While the council waits on more news from the governor, they decided to move forward with the public hearing to get a better feel of the public opinion, and get the ball rolling on any future decision making.
"I would recommend we make a motion to send this to common council to adopt a local law, that would be the motion to hold a public hearing," said Caldwell. "It doesn't mean that we'll have to vote on the local law, we have to approve it. But if we don't go that far, at least to get it on the agenda with the public hearing, then we don't get a chance to even vote on it. And I think we should have that chance."
Jeffrey agreed, and highlighted the need to give the public a voice in this decision.
"I think it's a good thing to allow them the opportunity to speak on this. And we only have one shot, if the public decides we do not want on-site consumption or dispensaries in the City of Norwich, this is it. After December 31st of 2021, you can't do anything anymore. So I feel as though it's only right to the residents to give them this opportunity to speak," he said.
Alderman David Zieno, who has been supportive of marijuana sales and on-site consumption in the city, voiced concerns that a public hearing wouldn't cover the full spectrum of public opinion. Instead, he suggested a public referendum.
"I'm concerned that a public hearing really doesn't give us a representative sample of what the public's opinion is. The real public opinion would be to put it to a referendum where people actually come and vote," said Zieno.
In order for a referendum to happen, the city would have to opt out of marijuana sales, and then it would be up to the public to petition a referendum and hold a public vote.
"It would only be if we opted out, if the City of Norwich decided to opt out, it would have X amount of time to circulate a petition to put it on the ballot as a referendum," said Jeffrey.
Alderman Brian Doliver pointed out that if the council doesn't allow marijuana sales in the city, residents are still going to find ways to buy it.
"What my biggest conundrum is, it's going to be sold regardless of whether we do this or not. Whether it's legal or not. It's already being sold right now," he explained. "So we have to make that decision: how do we want this to be solved, the legal way or the non-legal way?"
After lengthy debate, and opinions still split, council members voted to move the topic to common council, where they will be able to schedule a public hearing and make a final vote, should they choose.
The committee voted to move the measure to the common council for a future debate, with Zieno and Allaire voting against it.
Council members made the decision to present the topic at the upcoming common council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 21. This will give them the option to schedule a public hearing and make their final decision if necessary.
"My only concern still is that as each day passes, we draw closer to the sunset on any opportunity to pass a local law if we're going to," said Alderman Matthew Caldwell. "I want to make sure if we're going to adopt a local law before the end of this year, that we don't run out of time to also have a public hearing. Because that will be an important, if not required, piece of it."
A final decision must be made by December 31 of this year, but it becomes more complex than a simple yes or no.
The city has the choice of opting in to allowing sale and on-site consumption establishments in the city, or opt out. If they choose not to allow these establishments at this time, they can always repeal that decision later. However, if they opt in now, or make no decision thus automatically opting them in, there is no ability to go back on it in the future.
"It's a one shot deal," said Alderman Robert Jeffrey.
Council members are split, with some saying the tax revenue is an undeniable perk that should not be passed up. Others are concerned about the current lack of guidelines from the governor's office. However, Alderwoman Nancy Allaire informed the council that Governor Kathy Hochul has a commission in the works, which may bring forth more guidance in the near future.
"I just heard on the news tonight that they're doing a special session of the legislature, that Kathy Hochul called," she said. "There's nothing set yet right now, I think they don't know who's on the commission. Apparently she has some names that she wants to have approved in this special session."
But the window for making a decision is rapidly closing. While the council waits on more news from the governor, they decided to move forward with the public hearing to get a better feel of the public opinion, and get the ball rolling on any future decision making.
"I would recommend we make a motion to send this to common council to adopt a local law, that would be the motion to hold a public hearing," said Caldwell. "It doesn't mean that we'll have to vote on the local law, we have to approve it. But if we don't go that far, at least to get it on the agenda with the public hearing, then we don't get a chance to even vote on it. And I think we should have that chance."
Jeffrey agreed, and highlighted the need to give the public a voice in this decision.
"I think it's a good thing to allow them the opportunity to speak on this. And we only have one shot, if the public decides we do not want on-site consumption or dispensaries in the City of Norwich, this is it. After December 31st of 2021, you can't do anything anymore. So I feel as though it's only right to the residents to give them this opportunity to speak," he said.
Alderman David Zieno, who has been supportive of marijuana sales and on-site consumption in the city, voiced concerns that a public hearing wouldn't cover the full spectrum of public opinion. Instead, he suggested a public referendum.
"I'm concerned that a public hearing really doesn't give us a representative sample of what the public's opinion is. The real public opinion would be to put it to a referendum where people actually come and vote," said Zieno.
In order for a referendum to happen, the city would have to opt out of marijuana sales, and then it would be up to the public to petition a referendum and hold a public vote.
"It would only be if we opted out, if the City of Norwich decided to opt out, it would have X amount of time to circulate a petition to put it on the ballot as a referendum," said Jeffrey.
Alderman Brian Doliver pointed out that if the council doesn't allow marijuana sales in the city, residents are still going to find ways to buy it.
"What my biggest conundrum is, it's going to be sold regardless of whether we do this or not. Whether it's legal or not. It's already being sold right now," he explained. "So we have to make that decision: how do we want this to be solved, the legal way or the non-legal way?"
After lengthy debate, and opinions still split, council members voted to move the topic to common council, where they will be able to schedule a public hearing and make a final vote, should they choose.
The committee voted to move the measure to the common council for a future debate, with Zieno and Allaire voting against it.
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