SPRINGFIELD – The new City Council president, Justin Hurst, is hoping to work with Mayor Domenic Sarno, despite several recent issues that had placed the council at odds with the mayor.

“In order for government to work we have to find a way to work together,” Hurst said.

Hurst made the remarks during an interview broadcast by Focus Springfield, hosted by this reporter.

“My plan is to find the areas we agree and find some sort of consensus,” he added.

He anticipated 2019 would be a “very productive year.”

The compromise between the mayor and the council over the percentage of the city’s municipal tax on cannabis – and that part of it would be used to assist impacted neighborhoods –  is an example of the work that can be done between the two parties, Hurst noted.

Speaking of marijuana, Hurst said he would “rather take our time, be patient and do it right” when it comes to the city’s cannabis ordinances. He said he wanted to get the regulations right “so it will have the least impact on residents.”

He credited Councilor Michael Fenton for leading that process.

With four recreational pot shops announced for locations downtown, Hurst said there is a concern about over-saturation. Councilors are looking at questions regarding saturation and how many shops should be allowed to open at the same time – all 15 licenses or open them in waves.

Opening them at once could be “the ultimate chaos,” he said. “it’s still up in the air, it’s still in discussions.” The distance between shops is also being finalized: a half, mile, a mile or a mile and half radius from locations.

Hurst said it’s possible to have retail stores in 2019. He anticipates at least one and “perhaps a few.”  He believes the applications process should be completed sometime in February.

“We want to make sure we have the best candidates vying for these licenses at the outset,” Hurst said.

The completion of the cannabis ordinance is one of Hurt’s legislative objectives.

Another agenda item is  “we have to find a way to deal with what is happening in our police department,” Hurst said. While praising the department “there are some serious issues that have to be dealt with.”

Like others on the council, he does support the implantation of a Police Commission, although he added that is not the only solution to problems in the department. He asserted the single commissioner system “has not been working.”

He used the fact the city has used $1 million in settlements concerning police actions, as well as outside investigations.

Hurst said if there is no resolution to the debate over the legality of a Police Commission – the Sarno Administration maintains there isn’t – Hurst said some councilors might seek outside counsel to address an impasse through the courts.

Diversity issues are also “critical” to Hurst and he credited Councilor Marcus Williams for pushing the

Hurst is also committed to bringing more economic development and improvements to the city’s neighborhoods and not just downtown. He views the Community Preservation Act as one way to help neighborhoods.