Talks have begun anew toward marijuana rules in Wiscasset after more than half of town survey respondents supported them. According to results the ordinance review committee reviewed over Zoom Monday night, 50.8% of 321 respondents favored issuing licenses for cultivation; 51.1%, manufacturing; 50.8%, testing; and 51.7%, retail sales; 44.2% opposed all licensing.

Selectmen’s Chair Sarah Whitfield, the board’s liaison to the ORC, explained in the results she emailed ahead of the meeting, the town got back 333 surveys. However, three were blank and eight had all the boxes checked, including none of the above, “making their answers contradict itself,” Whitfield wrote.

ORC members said they will look at a draft ordinance they started before the survey. They said applicants will need to know where in town a use would be allowed. And the panel wants to ask Woolwich and Damariscotta how their marijuana rules are working.

Also Monday, the committee voted to send onto selectmen the proposed code of ethics, town property use policy and building law change the board requested. As proposed, building permit fees would be based on the town fee schedule, instead of fair market value which Town Manager Dennis Simmons said can be hard to determine. The ethics code calls for municipal officials and officers, committee members, town workers and consultants to be “fair, impartial and responsive,” support the U.S. and Maine Constitutions, advocate for nothing they have a financial or personal interest in, disclose any conflict of interest and recuse themselves from the matter if requested, and refuse personal gifts, favors, or special privileges that “would not have been extended but for (the designee’s) official position ...”

As proposed, if an elected official breaks the ethics code, they may get a letter of reprimand or censure or be asked to resign; appointed officials and appointed committee and board members who break the code face those possible penalties, and selectmen could remove the person for cause, after notice and public hearing. As for town employees breaking the code, “penalties include but are not limited to appropriate progressive discipline up to and including suspension and termination,” the proposed code states.

The proposed town property use policy involves Wiscasset Community Center’s gym, pool, Senior Center and kitchen; the municipal building meeting room, piers, town common, Wiscasset Municipal Airport, Sunken Garden, Scout Hall and playgrounds. Use takes nods from selectmen and department heads and a permit the town clerk issues; and $1 million liability insurance. Smoking, drugs, bounce houses and inflatables are proposed to be barred. Pets, candles, balloons and grills “may be approved on a case-by-case basis.”

The proposal continues: “If alcohol is to be served, a state liquor license permit, special event insurance, the bartender’s certificate of liability and a signed indemnification and hold harmless agreement exempting the (town) from any lawsuit and/or property damages resulting from the event will be required.” Parks and Recreation Director Duane Goud’s suggestion last fall, to make money at WCC letting rental events with licensed vendors have alcohol, helped lead to the proposed town property use policy.