SOUTHAMPTON — No cannabis cafes will open in town until local regulations are developed after voters Tuesday adopted a moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments until Dec. 31.
The motion at a special Town Meeting passed on an 89-30 vote.
During the moratorium period, the town will begin drafting bylaws on recreational marijuana, undertake a planning process to address the potential impacts and determine whether it should ban recreational marijuana establishments and retailers, according to the warrant.
“I don’t think the moratorium is enough,” one resident said at the meeting. “I think we should ban it completely.”
Southampton voters narrowly approved — 1,912 to 1,880 — a statewide ballot question in November 2016 that legalized adult use of recreational marijuana.
Municipalities where a majority of voters supported legalization of marijuana must hold a townwide referendum on a retail marijuana ban.
The state’s Cannabis Control Commission is required to have regulations in place by March 15 and will begin accepting applications from recreational marijuana retailers on April 1.
In other action, voters approved a tax increment financing agreement between the town and J&E Precision Tool Co. The business, owned by Select Board member Jim Labrie, plans to expand a site at Valley Road and construct a 7,200-square-foot building, former interim Town Administrator Robert Markel said at the meeting.
“The existing facility will continue to pay the current level of taxes: $31,000,” Markel said. “The new facility is estimated to cost $600,000 … and the taxes will be approximately $10,000.”
Markel said with the tax incentive, the taxes on the new building will be stair-stepped over the next five years, with taxes in the first year at $2,000, and the following year $4,000. As part of the agreement, Precision will hire 15 to 20 employees, Markel said.
Markel was the point person on the article because recently hired Town Administrator Edward Gibson started in the job only last week.
Voters also OK’d $4,800 for the Police Department to buy five high-velocity vests and five Kevlar helmets for active shooter situations, as well as $5,020 for a new video dash camera in a police cruiser and $4,900 for a portable radar speed limit sign.
In community preservation funds, the town voted to transfer $40,000 for a new roof on the Szczypta Barn, $30,000 for a feasibility study on the old town hall building, and $12,000 to restore grave markers of Revolutionary and Civil War veterans in Center Cemetery.
Other articles passed:
—$45,000 for a boiler replacement and $15,000 for new carpet in the library at the William E. Norris School;
—$35,000 to the Fire Department for a modular trailer unit to use as a sleeping area;
—$62,000 to the highway department to pu rchase a lawn mower.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.