Voters Kibosh New Cemetery, Yes To Banning Pot: Westborough Town Meeting

WESTBOROUGH, MA — At the annual town election on March 7, Westborough voters overwhelming (1,192 to 294)supported a temporary ban on commercial and recreational sales of marijuana in town.

Voters, too, approved two warrant articles at the Annual Town Meeting on March 18 that would support the town's stance, amending two town bylaws to "opt out" of the marijuana business, so to speak.

Westborough voters said "yes" to Article 32, which “would amend Article 48 of the town’s General Bylaw – Marijuana Not Medically Prescribed and consistent with MGL Ch. 94G, Section 3(a)(2) and state all types of commercial, non-medical marijuana establishments as defined in MGL. Ch. 94G, Section 1(j), to include all marijuana cultivators, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturers, marijuana retailers, or any other types of licensed marijuana-related businesses, shall be prohibited within the Town of Westborough. Or take any other action thereon.”

Article 33, also approved, “would amend Article 4, Section 5800 of the town’s Zoning Bylaws. Again, Marijuana Not Medically Prescribed and consistent with MGL Ch. 94G, Section 3(a)(2) and state all types of commercial, non-medical marijuana establishments as defined in MGL. Ch. 94G, Section 1(j), to include all marijuana cultivators, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturers, marijuana retailers, or any other types of licensed marijuana-related businesses, shall be prohibited within the Town of Westborough. Or take any other action thereon.”

Voters also approved a capital improvement plan that includes money for public works, police and fire department. Article 11 said yes to crosswalk safety signs in town. And the Hastings School will get a new heating and cooling system.

All 42 articles passed except for Article 26, which would provide funding for phase 1 construction of a new cemetery on Glen and Nourse streets. According to Town Moderator John Arnold, the view was actually 90-52 in favor, but the article needed a two-thirds vote to pass since the motion was for borrowing $1.7 million.

"The case to defeat this article was made by the Advisory Finance Committee who wanted a better plan about the costs for cemetery plots and other revenue and how that would be factored into the long-term costs," said Arnold.

Patch file photo