DEERFIELD — In what has waged on in the past several months as a battle of how to deal with the legalization of recreational marijuana, residents parted ways with a divided Planning Board and overwhelmingly passed new rules to govern pot.
The vote on the bylaws came almost exactly an hour after the initial discussion on pot began at Deerfield’s annual Town Meeting Monday night at the Frontier Regional School, with about 250 people.
Now that the bylaws have been passed, essentially one recreational marijuana retail shop can open in town, which will likely play out as the vacant facility across the from the Red Roof Inn. The national medical marijuana corporation Harvest Inc. has eyed a place in Deerfield.
A vote on prohibition, which was non-binding, was also struck down despite a few, mostly older, voices against it, calling for a town vote.
The $14.7 million budget was approved — a 2.9 percent increase from last year’s $14.2 million budget — without rigorous debate. Most discussion was saved for the marijuana questions that were at the end of the year’s warrant.
The only slow-up on the budget was a quarrel on how the Board of Health’s spending includes, without explicitly stating, funding related to mosquito and tick issues.
The town approved: about $1 million for total government expenses, $1.1 million for public safety, $8.8 million for education with $4.7 million of that on Deerfield Elementary School and $3.8 million of that on Frontier Regional School, $1 million on public works, $142,000 on human services and $256,000 on culture and recreation.
Like Whately and Sunderland did prior, Deerfield approved its allotment to help pay for a John Deere tractor for Frontier Regional School.
Unlike the two towns prior, Deerfield had a bit of debate on the matter. Selectman Henry “Kip” Komosa tried to have the town spend $7,000 instead of the school’s request of up to about $17,000. This amendment was overwhelmingly voted down by residents, and instead the town agreed to pay its share to help out Frontier.
A handful of questions surrounded the capital request on the feasibility study for the church and possible future senior citizen. Residents were looking for updates on the church, which is still held up in court at the moment before it becomes officially in Deerfield’s possession.
The Select Board now has the authority to grant three new alcohol licenses, for stores that want to sell beer and wine but not serve it at their business. For each license to be granted, town input would be a part of it.
Deerfield agreed to join the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District, an effort spearheaded regionally by Select Board member Carolyn Shores Ness. This year there is no cost, but there may be down the line, as Ness assumes commissioner of the endeavor that aims to limit the spread and growth of mosquitos.
Two early items in the warrant received a handful of conversation.
Members of the Finance Committee debated the degree to which town employees should get raises and how that compares to neighboring towns. Residents agreed to vote the recommended step and cost of living increases.
A debate to spend about $35,000 to put toward savings on retirement benefits played out between the Select Board and the Finance Committee, which had not recommended the spending.
Last year the town invested $10,000 toward an account of more than $8 million, which continues to grow. Selectman Trevor McDaniel said it’s now up to $8.5 million after growing $250,000 this past year.
Finance Committee Chairman Albert “Skip” Olmstead said the amount was too much and a rather arbitrary number.
“I have a problem when two people put something on the warrant and they’re in the minority,” Olmstead said, speaking about Select Board members McDaniel and Ness.
The motion passed, stashing away $35,000 for an issue that town officials agreed is an issue and could use further study and plans.
“We’re all recognizing this bill is coming due,” McDaniel said. “$10,000 isn’t adequate. $35,000 isn’t adequate, but it’s a good start.”