An ordinance that would prohibit Ohio-licensed facets of the medical marijuana industry from locating in Greenfield failed to obtain enough votes from Greenfield council members on Wednesday, but it will come up for another reading at the council’s next regular meeting.
According to the ordinance, by passing the legislation the village would prohibit any Ohio-licensed medical marijuana cultivators, processors, and retail dispensaries “from locating and/or doing business within the Village of Greenfield …”
It is a measure that council member Bob Bergstrom said would give the village control over the matter, and according to Law Director Brian Zets, council could change the ordinance in the future.
Ohio’s medical marijuana program has been in effect since September, following the signing of HB 523 earlier this year by Gov. John Kasich.
On Wednesday, council member Brenda Losey voted no on enacting the legislation on its first reading.
“I personally don’t have a problem with it,” Losey said.
“Me either,” said Borreson.
Losey said she believed marijuana to be safer than the opiates that the pharmacies in town are licensed to distribute. Borreson agreed with that statement as well.
Losey said Greenfield could also have control by setting up its own licensing requirements. It is something that other municipalities have done, Zets said.
As the ordinance was set for a vote as an emergency, meaning that council members could vote on the adoption of the legislation without the required three readings, Losey and council member Chris Borreson voted no. The remaining three votes in favor of declaring an emergency were not enough to suspend the rules. The legislation will come back before council for a second reading at the next regular meeting.
In other business, Bergstrom reported on the most-recent meeting of the finance committee. He said that while everything was in the budget, things were “tight” as income taxes are lower than they have been. He said the village would remain “diligent” in staying on budget. And despite the present constraints of the budget, he said a carryover is anticipated by the end of the year.
City Manager Ron Coffey reported that street light improvements are coming to Jefferson Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets with some upgrading of street lights in that area. A light is also to be added to the corner of Lafayette and North Washington streets, he said. It could take up to three months for Miami Valley Lighting to get the new lights installed, Coffey said he was told by the company.
Also reported was that the village office staff is working with Greening Greater Greenfield (G3) to place banners around town to honor veterans. Holly Ellinger is helping coordinate the project. She can be reached at 937-981-3500. More information and an application are available at troopbanners.com/greenfield. Coffey said orders have to be placed by April 5, and that G3 plans to have the banners up prior to Memorial Day.
Upcoming events in Greenfield include: the McNeil Flying Turkey 5K on Thanksgiving Day beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Felson Park; the Eagles Christmas Parade on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m., lineup begins at 4:30 p.m. at Greenfield Research with float judging there at 5:30 p.m.; and the Greenfield Historical Society Tour of Homes on Dec. 3, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The Greenfield Village Council meets in regular session the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the first floor of the city building. The meetings are open to the public.
