Barre Voters Reject Marijuana Retail Ban 116 to 110 at Annual Town Meeting

BARRE — June 19, 2018 — Barre voters narrowly defeated a proposed marijuana retail storefront ban, 116 to 110, at the town's June 19 annual Town Meeting. The secret ballot — the first conducted with optical-scan machines at a Barre Town Meeting, with 226 of 235 registered voters present casting ballots — rejected Article 13 after extended floor debate in which the town's police chief urged voters to ban all three marijuana articles, warning that such establishments "drive businesses out" of downtowns. Residents voted down a companion ban on delivery-only marijuana operations by voice vote, but approved a ban on social consumption establishments unanimously. A sweeping marijuana zoning bylaw developed by the Planning Board over seven months was tabled on a two-thirds standing vote, and a moratorium extension on delivery operations failed to reach the two-thirds threshold at roughly 53 percent in favor, leaving the town without a regulatory framework as its existing temporary moratorium on storefronts and social consumption remains in effect through December 31, 2019. On routine business, voters unanimously approved the omnibus operating budget, including a $5,525,660 Quabbin Regional School District assessment, $759,242 for the Police Department, and $60,000 transfers each to the Stabilization Fund and for a new highway dump body.