ITEM FILE PHOTO
Lynn City Hall.
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — The city’s $299.6 million budget was approved Tuesday, but much of the City Council’s focus was on marijuana.
The unanimously approved budget is a 2.4 percent increase over last year with most of the funds — $139.58 million — reserved for schools.
But the fire came later when City Councilor Peter Capano passionately urged his colleagues to consider sites other than his Lynnway district for medical marijuana dispensaries. He said that Ward 6 has become a dumping ground for businesses the city does not want.
“I am sick and tired of all of these businesses ending up in Ward 6,” he said.
The council is facing a state-imposed Aug. 3 deadline to pass an ordinance that would designate pot dispensary districts. If the council fails to amend its zoning, the city could face lawsuits from potential clinic operators. Bay State residents voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2012.
The council had drafted a zoning amendment that would allow the clinics to be open at seven separate Lynnway addresses, Commercial Street and Route 107/Western Avenue from the Belden Bly Bridge running north and ending at the intersection of Western and Murphy avenues.
Capano proposed the law department draft language to present to the council at its special meeting on July 5, tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m., that would eliminate the overlay districts in his ward. Instead, the whole city would be open to the dispensaries. He also suggested that only one clinic be allowed in the first year, rather than the maximum of two that was previously discussed. If everything goes okay with one, then a second would be considered.
Once a host agreement is established, medical marijuana clinics give a percentage of their revenues to the city. Capano’s third proposal was that no specific city employee or department would benefit from those funds.
After some dissent, the council agreed to have those changes be presented to them next week for consideration.
Despite agreeing to consider Capano’s proposal next week, some councilors appear to have already made their decision on one point.
“I can’t support opening up dispensaries anywhere in the city,” said City Councilor Wayne Lozzi.
He also said he felt the pressure to pass the new ordinance, rather than putting it off, with the deadline looming.
“We’re faced with a situation where we have a gun to our heads,” Lozzi said.
City Council Vice-President Darren Cyr said there wasn’t enough time before Aug. 3 to consider other options.
“I don’t see the reasoning to open it up to the city,” he said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.
