Buckfield Board of Selectmen

Dec. 18, 2018

Buckfield Municipal Building

Marijuana moratorium

What happened: Selectmen unanimously voted to extend the town’s retail marijuana moratorium for another 180 days after a hearing on the matter was held before the meeting.  

What it means: This gives selectmen and the town time to see what the state will do in fine-tuning regulations for retail and medical marijuana establishments. Concerns raised at the hearing included how the new laws would affect businesses, according to Town Manager Joe Roach. Buckfield’s moratorium was first put in place in January 2017 at a special town meeting and has been extended a number of times.

What’s next: The renewed moratorium expires June 28, 2019, which gives selectmen time to bring something to the annual town meeting in June if that is what they choose to do. If the town wanted to opt-in for retail marijuana, it would have to be voted on at town meeting.

Climate change resolution

What happened: Roberta Hill of Citizens Climate Lobby answered selectmen’s questions about the proposed carbon fee and dividend system.

What it means: In addition to households, it would affect municipal buildings. Towns would have to pay the carbon fee, which would be passed on to citizens in the form of taxes unless municipalities do something to lower their carbon footprints, such as installing solar panels. “It will work the same for towns as people,” Hill said. “Everyone in the economy is just incentivized to bring their carbon footprint down.” Depending on how much or how little carbon emissions are used, people and towns will either receive a dividend check, break even and have no cost, or have to pay a fee. To calculate this, people can visit the Citizens Climate Lobby’s website at https://citizensclimatelobby.org/calculator/.

What’s next: Hill gave selectmen her answers in print to review further. She’s asked them to sign a climate change resolution, which they will weigh in on at a later date.

Resignation

What happened: Selectmen accepted Eileen Hotham’s resignation from the Community Day Committee with regret.

What it means: Hotham cited personal reasons for her resignation and told Roach she can help with the transition. Anyone interested in serving can pick up an application at the Municipal Center, 34 Turner St.

What’s next: Roach will draft a letter to Hotham for the select board to sign, thanking her for all of her years of service.

Quitclaim deed

What happened: Selectmen signed a quitclaim deed for a mobile home on Depot Street.

What it means: All of the back and current taxes along with fees and interest have been paid, so the foreclosed home can be returned to the original owner.