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Year: 2021

Marijuana Legislation

Town of Stanford Legalization of Marijuana
Dialogue on Dispensaries and Lounges in the Town of Stanford
Your input on the following is requested. Please read carefully and send your comments via email to wburton@townofstanford.org.

New York State, through the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) [Cannabis Law Article 4], has legalized the possession and use of cannabis.  However, the regulated retail sale of adult-use cannabis is not expected to begin until late 2022 or early 2023.

The State regulatory framework being created is analogous the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and the New York State Liquor Authority.  The framework is not complete, but several components are known.

  • There will be retail stores (sometimes called dispensaries – analogous to wine and liquor stores) and on-site consumption sites (sometimes called lounges – analogous to bars).
  • The State is prohibiting retail sale and/or on-site consumption within 500 feet of a school and 200 feet of a house of worship (analogous to alcohol sales laws).
  • All cannabis sales will be subject to a 4% local sales tax which will be distributed to the county where sales take place.  Counties are entitled to retain 25% of the local tax collected and must distribute the remaining 75% to the municipalities within the county in proportion to sales in each locale.  (Communities without sales will not receive revenue.)
  • Under State law, cannabis smoking and vaping is treated the same as smoking or vaping tobacco products and is prohibited in all the same places.
  • Towns may pass local laws and land use regulations governing the time, place and manner of the operation of retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption sites, provided such laws or regulations do not make operations unreasonably impracticable.
  • Peace officers will be able to inspect all licensed or permitted premises and all records of licensed operators.

At the local level, State law for retail and on-site consumption will be deemed automatically approved unless the municipality passes a local law (opt-out) preventing cannabis sales prior to December 31, 2021.

If the municipality opts-in; retail and/or on-premises sales cannot be prohibited but can be subject to local zoning, which cannot place unreasonable restraints on the business.  Other aspects of marijuana production and distribution have been pre-empted by state law and cannot be prohibited.

A town can opt in for one option [e.g., dispensaries] and opt out for the other [e.g., lounges]

If the Town opts-out, then it may opt-in later, but the Town cannot opt-out of either retail sales or lounges unless it passes a local law.

  • To effectuate an opt-out, local governments must adopt a local law subject to a permissive referendum on or before December 31, 2021.
  • No city, village or town may opt-out after December 31, 2021.

Congratulations to the Winners of our Spring Photo Contest

First Place Winner – Philip Cohen  Weeping Cherry Tree

Second Place Winner – Kathy Stanley  Koi Easter Parade

Third Place Winner – Philip Cohen  American Goldfinch

Fourth Place Winner – Helene Sellerberg  Why Aren’t You Feeding the Birds?

Fifth Place Winner – Gregg Smith  Gliding Over the Pond

P00[677:677] E[159:0072]G[000:0x00] BV[118:8] IR[N]

Pickle Ball Court now Open!

We are thrilled to announce that the new pickle ball court is open for use!

We are asking that it only be used for pickle ball, and that skate boarders use the lower

court, adjacent to the Highway Garage, instead of our new court.  Thank you!

 

Come Celebrate the 125th Anniversary of our Grange ! Sat July 10th

The community is cordially invited to join Stanford Grange #808 at its 125th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 2 p.m.  The celebration will take place on the recreation fields behind the Stanford Grange Hall.  Noted guest speakers and presenters include:
 
Phil Prelli, Vice President of the National Grange
Stephen Coye, President of the New York State Grange
Marcus Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive
Gregg Pulver, Chairman of the Dutchess County Legislature
Wendy Burton, Town of Stanford Supervisor
 
Grange Membership Awards will be presented to Louise Woodcock (40 years) and Purdy Halstead and Bill Darling (65 years). Entertainment will be provided by the Stanford Junior Grangers, Stanford Grange Youth, and the Stanfordville Swingers. Refreshments will be served following the celebration.
 
Reservations are encouraged, but not required.  RSVP to Grange Secretary Ryan Orton at (845) 868-7869.

NYS Department of Taxation and Finance on Assessments and Taxes

To further clarify the relationship between the Town Assessor’s property value Assessments and your Taxes, here is a document produced by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance which I hope puts this issue to rest.

Your assessment could increase, and your tax bill could decrease

Your assessment could increase and your tax bill could stay the same

Your assessment could decrease and your tax bill could increase.

Town Board Public Hearing on proposed Local Law #1 of 2021

The Town Board will be holding a Public Hearing on June 17th, 2021 at 7pm to accept public comments on proposed Local Law #1 of 2021, a Local Law authorizing the Town Board of the Town of Stanford to prescribe budgeting process deadlines in addition to those set forth on New York Town Law.

 

RESOLUTION No. 6C of 2021

 

To adopt Local Law #1 of 2021

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF STANFORD TO PRESCRIBE BUDGETING PROCESS DEADLINES IN ADDITION TO THOSE SET FORTH IN NEW YORK TOWN LAW

                                                                                                                                                                  At a meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Stanford (“Town Board”), held at the Town of Stanford Town Hall on the 17th day of June, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., Town Supervisor Wendy Burton called the meeting to order, and she, seconded by Councilperson _____________, moved the following resolution, to enact the following local law, to be known as Local Law No. 1 of 2021, entitled “A local law requiring the Town’s budget for any fiscal year during which the Biennial Town Election is to be held to be adopted before the date of the Biennial Town election.”

WHEREAS, the following Local Law was introduced as Proposed Local Law No. 1 of 2021, by Resolution No. 5E of 2021, adopted at a Special Meeting of the Town Board held on May 13, 2021; and

WHEREAS, a properly noticed public hearing was held before the Town Board during the meeting on June 17, 2021, on Local Law No. 1 of 2021; and

WHEREAS, the enactment of this Local Law is a Type II Action pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, because it is routine agency administration and management pursuant to 6 N.Y.C.R.R. §617.5(c)(26), and therefore exempt from environmental review; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Stanford as follows:

Section 1.  Declaration of intent. The Town Board has determined that it is in the best interest of the Town and its residents to complete the Town’s annual budgeting process for any fiscal year during which the biennial Town election is to take place, including the adoption of that year’s final budget, prior to the occurrence of the biennial Town election.  The intent of the Town Board is not to amend the budget system set forth in Article 8 of the New York Town Law.  Rather, the intent of the Town Board is to require the completion the budget process and adoption of the final budget sooner than it would ordinarily be required to do under Article 8 of the New York Town Law, in those years in which the Town will be holding it Biennial Town Election. 

 

Section 2.  The Town Board of the Town of Stanford is hereby required to complete the Town’s annual budgeting process for any fiscal year during which the biennial Town election is to take place, including the adoption of that year’s final budget, prior to the date of the biennial Town election. 

 

Section 3.  The Town Board is hereby authorized to adopt a timetable for its budgeting process, for any fiscal year during which the biennial Town election is to take place, that is consistent with the deadline for completing the Town’s annual budgeting process set forth in this Local Law and with the timetable otherwise prescribed in Article 8 of the New York Town Law.

 

Section 4.  This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the New York Department of State.

 

The foregoing resolution was voted upon with all Board members voting as follows:

 

Wendy Burton, Supervisor                 ___________

Frank Pepe, Councilman                    ___________

Mary Weinberger, Councilwoman     __Absent___

Margaret Fallon, Councilwoman       ___________

Paul Coughlin, Councilman               ___________

 

DATED:         Stanfordville, New York

                        June 17th, 2021

________________________________

                                                                                    RITAMARY BELL, TOWN CLERK