WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Town Council has again rejected an attempt to re-start the conversation about recreational cannabis businesses coming to West Springfield.

On Nov. 21, Councilor Daniel O’Brien proposed allowing West Springfield residents to have their say at the ballot box and reverse a previous council vote. He said several times it was a “voting rights issue.” O’Brien previously supported a citizen’s petition to force a ballot vote, a measure that failed to gain sufficient signatures this summer.

In the council vote, O’Brien’s efforts were only supported by Councilor Michael Eger. O’Brien said he has seen wider support in the town among residents for a new ballot question.

On the 2016 statewide ballot question that legalized recreational cannabis use and sales in Massachusetts, a majority of West Springfield voted “no.” Based on that result, the Town Council enacted a moratorium on cannabis businesses. In subsequent years, Mayor William Reichelt continued to ask the council to overturn this policy, and on July 18 this year the council passed an ordinance to allow them in certain parts of town. Under the state law, recreational cannabis use, as well as the cultivation and possession of small amounts for personal use, cannot be banned in town.

Town General Counsel Kate R. O’Brien Scott explained to Reminder Publishing, “The vote taken by the Town Council tonight was regarding whether to submit a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance and the general ordinance to essentially reinstate the ban on recreational marijuana sales in town.  Per the Town Council’s rules, ordinance amendments that are proposed by an individual councilor need a majority vote of the council to begin the process of being considered. The proposals would have reversed the allowance of retail marijuana sales that had been approved by the council earlier this year in July.

“If supported by a majority vote of the councilors present this evening, the zoning ordinance amendment would have been referred to the Planning Board for a public hearing and vote, as required by [state law], and the general ordinance amendment would have been referred to the council’s Ordinance and Policy Subcommittee. Both would have needed the ultimate approval of the Town Council to reverse the allowance of retail marijuana sales, with the zoning ordinance amendment requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote.

“Only once all of that occurred would the process be restarted to include a ballot question. There has not been a previous ballot question on the specific topic of retail marijuana sales in West Springfield. The only ballot question was the statewide question relative to the legalization of marijuana in 2016.”

The council was told the town has received six responses to its request for proposals for retail cannabis businesses.

Mayor William Reichelt commented to Reminder Publishing: “I’m pleased the council continues to support their original vote taken back in July. Opponents to the vote had an opportunity to collect signatures to overturn the council’s decision but collected less than half the required signatures. I believe that shows the survey conducted earlier this year showing 70 percent support for sales is accurate.”

The council approved the fiscal year 2023 tax classifications, with slight decreases in the tax rates for both residential and commercial properties. Those reductions might be offset by increasing property values, town Chief Financial Officer Sharon Wilcox explained.

Councilor Brian Griffin explained the council’s goal over the past few years has been to attempt to reduce the tax rates.

The council also approved the sale of three properties in the West Springfield Trade Center Condominiums: 218B Day St., Unit 2C4B, to Ansart Property Management, $16,000; 218A Day St., Unit 2C4A, to Scott C. Harvey, $25,000; and 231 Western Ave., Unit 2A2, to CGS Realty LLC, $25,000.

Eversource’s plan to replace gas mains in two projects also received the green light. The two areas are Elmdale, Main and Riverdale streets, and Fox, Warren and East Warren streets with Beauview Terrace.

The Town Council also was introduced to the town’s new Veteran Service Officer Carolyn Koszarek. Koszarek took the position five months ago. She told the councilors she is a Westfield native and an Air Force veteran who served 21 years. After retirement she worked in the Springfield Veterans Administration clinic and wanted to do more to assist her fellow veterans.

American Legion Post 207 also took time at the meeting to honor Bryan Burlingham for his ongoing campaign to clean the gravestones of veterans, among others, in the town’s cemeteries. He was nominated and received the American Legion’s Americanism Award for his work.