In a printed notice dated November 16, 2021 and posted on the window at the Stafford Town Hall, A motion made by Councilman Donald Mullen and seconded by Ronald Panek, to hold a Special Town Board Meeting on November 22, 2021 in regards to Local Law #2 pursuant to Cannabis Law 131, opting out of licensing and establishing retail cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption establishments within the Town of Stafford. The meeting was held at the Town Hall at 7:00p.m.
At the Special Meeting, a Public Hearing was held on the subject and several residents attended. At the beginning of the hearing, Councilman Ronald Panek, citied the lack of information from NYS as a reason to opt out.
“Thats why we are leaning towards opting out until some of this information floats in,” says Supervisor Robert Clement.
Resident Cathy Worthington wanted to know how the courts have been affected since the change in laws regarding marijuana possession.
“The state no longer penalizes people as severe. It used to be your license could be suspended, that’s no longer the case. Our courts used to yield a quarter million a year, now it will probably be a break-even court and with sales tax frozen that only means one thing, $120,000 more we will have to come up with out of taxes or we will have to cut services,” says Panek.
Another resident wanted to know what will change once the Town of Stafford opts out.
“Right now, we have no laws, we have no interest, nobody has come forward saying that they want to establish retail or on site,” says Panek.
After going over a SEQR review, the board voted on the local law to opt out.
The Town Board voted unanimously 4-0 to opt out and passed local law #2 pursuant to Cannabis law 131.
Again, we can opt in at any time, said Councilman Mullen. A resident then stated, “Yeah, but you have to go through hoops to get it.” “But you’re jumping through hoops right now that you don’t even know exist,” said Mullen.
Another resident said, “It doesn’t really affect the town, it affects the person who is actually applying. The only benefit to the town is the revenue, so just trying to figure out why you wouldn’t have approved it.”