Two items on the agenda at the last Town Council meeting could have significant impact on the Gorham community. The first item was an Action to consider a proposed moratorium of Retail Marijuana Establishments and Retail Marijuana Social Clubs. The second item was an Action to consider adopting a Property Tax Assistance Ordinance for the Town of Gorham.
The first proposal is intended to provide the Town with the necessary time to review its ordinances to determine the implications of future proposed marijuana establishments and/or social clubs to develop ordinances governing the location and operation of such establishments. By law, a moratorium is limited to 180 days but can be extended as necessary if the issue has not been resolved. The unregulated location and operation of retail marijuana facilities and retail marijuana social clubs raises legitimate questions regarding the impact of such establishments on the Gorham community. This includes but is not limited to how these establishments fit in with existing structures and uses in residential, commercial, and industrial zoned areas; health and safety effects of these establishments if not adequately regulated; potential criminal activity associated with unauthorized sales to minors and criminal activity associated with the cultivation, manufacturing, sale and use of marijuana and marijuana products for non-medical purposes, and the potential increased burden on the Town’s law enforcement and first responders.
It is important to note that this ordinance does not impact the rights and privileges afforded by the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act to qualified patients, caregivers, or registered dispensaries to include cultivation facilities associated with any of these classifications. It was the recommendation of the town attorney that this moratorium be enacted. The ordinance was passed unanimously. Gorham joins a growing list of towns such as Bangor, Skowhegan, Winslow, Hallowell, Naples, and Clinton that have enacted such a moratorium.
The second proposal is intended to establish a program to provide property tax assistance to persons 70 years of age and over who reside in the Town of Gorham. Under this program, the Town of Gorham will provide rebate payments to those individuals who maintain a homestead in the Town of Gorham and meet certain criteria, such as associated income guidelines. This ordinance mimics the ordinance the Town of Cumberland has adopted. It is important to note that this program would be available to both renters and property owners.
The program would operate out of a fixed pool of funds, designated for this program but taken from the general fund, with a maximum allowable benefit of $500. Only one qualifying applicant per household shall be entitled to payment on the program annually. Eligibility shall be determined according to total household income. This ordinance also passed unanimously by the Town Council and will now be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for its recommendations.