Council has resolutions for and against on its August meeting agenda
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
NORTHFIELD — City Council is taking as much time as possible and trying to cover all of its bases regarding the statewide cannabis marketplace.
In a vote split along party lines, the governing body introduced an ordinance July 13 that would prohibit cannabis businesses of all types from operating within the city.
That 4-3 vote comes about a month after members voted 5-2 to introduce an ordinance permitting four of the six classes of such businesses to operate in the city’s Regional Commercial Zone on Tilton Road, from Deborah Avenue to the border with Egg Harbor Township.
What the latest move does is provide City Council with either option for a second reading and passage during its meeting Aug. 15, six days before the state deadline for municipalities to impose local regulations on the industry. Failing to do so would effectively allow whatever the state ultimately decides when it creates the framework for a statewide cannabis marketplace. What that will be is anyone’s guess, Council President Tom Polistina pointed out in requesting support for the ordinance.
In November 2020, New Jersey residents voted about 2-1 in favor of allowing recreational use of marijuana for adults and creation of the marketplace. That started a 180-day countdown for municipalities to prohibit or limit the six classes of cannabis businesses. Delivery businesses can be restricted but the actual delivery of the product cannot.
“I recommend to pause the cannabis (ordinance) before we go forward,” Polistina said. “At this point we still have no idea what the legislation is, so while they say there are 37 licenses, we don’t know what the ultimate number will be. It doesn’t do anything but put this on pause because our deadline is August.”
Councilman Paul Utts, a member of the subcommittee studying the issue, said delaying is a bad idea because businesses could go elsewhere.
City Clerk Mary Canesi said she already has received telephone calls seeking information about operating in the city.
Canesi said the state limits the number of liquor licenses a community can have based on population but without the state finalizing its framework, there is no way to know how many licenses would be permitted in any municipality.
Utts argued that competition would limit the number of businesses opening whether the state did or not, and said he is concerned the city will miss an opportunity by not getting in on the ground floor.
Councilwoman Barbara Madden noted nearly 70 percent of city voters supported the referendum.
Councilman Brian Smith fired back that the referendum was for decriminalization not for allowing pot shops in your backyard.
“I’m tired of hearing the 70 percent thing. I talked to a number of Northfield residents who voted in favor of it who do not want cannabis businesses in Northfield and would vote against it,” Smith said.
Councilman Frank Perri said the city approved three liquor licenses at the previous meeting, asking what’s the difference. He said the Planning Board could control where the businesses could be located and how they would operate.
Solicitor Kris Facenda once again informed council members that if they do nothing, the city is stuck with whatever the state allows for five years and that any business that opened in that time would be grandfathered in, adding that the city could reverse a prohibition but not permission. He also pointed out that local regulations cannot trump state regulations, saying it’s important to control the businesses from the outset.
“If we vote on this now, we have both of those to consider at the next meeting,” Polistina said.
Utts warned that the city is going to lose potential revenue if it prohibits the businesses even for a short time, saying entrepreneurs would just go elsewhere.
“Revenue is important but not everything,” Polistina said. “This is making sure we evaluate it completely. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Republicans Polistina, Smith, Dave Notaro and Greg Dewees voted to approve introduction of the ordinance, while Democrats Perri, Utts and Madden voted against.
City Council’s next meeting, when it will have to make a decision, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.