LITTLETON, Maine — Unlike neighboring Houlton, retail marijuana businesses and social clubs are not welcomed in Littleton.
A small group of about 35 residents approved an ordinance Monday evening that prohibits retail marijuana establishments and social clubs from opening within town limits. The ordinance passed with little discussion during the town’s annual meeting.
Dwight Cowperthwaite, fire chief for Littleton, looks through the annual report at Monday night’s town meeting at the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Snowmobile Club. About 35 people attended the town meeting. (Joseph Cyr)
Maine voters approved a referendum on Nov. 8 legalizing the recreational use and growing of marijuana for adults 21 and over. Possessing and growing marijuana for recreational use is now legal under Maine law, but buying or selling it is not.
On Feb. 21, Houlton’s town council unanimously approved a stance welcoming any and all retail outlets and social clubs to the town, albeit in a designated area near the airport. That decision was made by Houlton councilors even though the state has put the brakes on all such businesses until February 2018, while it develops its own rules.
Also at the town meeting, Littleton voters approved a total municipal budget of $487,295 which is an increase of $33,134 over last year’s figure. Town Manager Lorie Schools, who took over the town post last September, said the main reason for the increase was the selectmen’s desire to improve a number of town roads this year.
Exactly which roads will be worked on this summer has yet to be determined by the selectmen, so the amount raised is only an estimate.
The town’s recreation department is up $2,000. Schools said that increase was due to the fact that Littleton sends so many children to Monticello’s rec program that an adjustment was needed. About 20 children from Littleton participated in the program last year, compared to 21 for Monticello.
At the polls earlier in the day, David Bartlett and Barry Campbell were both re-elected to the select board. Bartlett received 30 votes, while Campbell received 29.
The town meeting marked the first for Schools as town manager. Schools has worked in the town office for the past 11 years as a tax collector. She replaces Courtney Willigar who served as town manager from 2008-16.
“I wasn’t expecting the position to come open,” Schools said. “There was certainly a lot to learn, but Sandra Wotton [deputy clerk] is still there and she has been wonderful.”
Schools said she had considered applying for the position back in 2008, but was not in a position at that time where she could pursue the job.
