CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Selectmen are debating whether to begin the process of crafting a medical marijuana zoning bylaws.

 

With the likelihood of the state adopting recreational marijuana regulations, Town Administrator Mark Webber asked the board on Tuesday if officials would be interested in creating a bylaw.

 

"Recreational will be passed and if there is an interest we would pass this along to the Planning Board," Webber said. "Applicants are already approaching area towns seeking letters of non-opposition for medical with the angle of sliding in for recreational ... It is coming pretty quickly and I just want you to be aware of it."

 

Selectwoman Carol Francesconi asked that the board have some time to think about it before starting a serious discussion.

 

Webber said the project would mostly lie on the Planning Board, but Planner Peter Traub said his board has yet to really discuss a bylaw.

 

The town administrator also told the board it would need to adopt a facility use policy for the closed elementary and a lease agreement with the regional school district for continued use of the building for its central administrative office. 

 

"The district's attorney was waiting for the budget to pass before working on the lease agreement," Webber said. "He is working on it now."

 

If the building is occupied, the town can save on insurance.

 

"You are going to have things happening there and I recommend that the board adopt a building use policy and application," Webber said. "It is a standard document that will allow you to track who is there so you won't have conflicts." 

 

In the past, the school district handled all facility use requests. Webber said he will bring forth a policy at a future meeting.

 

Highway Superintendent Blair Crane reported that he has blocked off a brush-removal collection area when there is no one to attend to it because people are dumping garbage.

 

"I have had issues with people coming in there at night and on the weekends and dumping not only refuse but garbage, cans, bottles and I just got tired of going down there and picking through it ... I can't really screen it out," he said.

 

He said the town mulches the brush pile and uses it for topsoil, but this can't be done if people throw garbage in it.

 

Crane said would like eventually only allow access through the transfer station only so the dumping area is always monitored.