POLAND — The Board of Selectpersons voted unanimously Tuesday night to enact a 90-day moratorium on allowing retail marijuana establishments and social clubs. 

Chairman Stan Tetenman said the town is “left in limbo” without official state regulations in place.

“It’s not to say we don’t want any marijuana businesses in town,” he said, but selectpersons want to wait until “the state regulations are clear.” 

The moratorium can be extended another 90 days after its expiration. 

Tetenman said he hopes the state regulations will be in place by the time Poland holds its annual town meeting in 2018 so voters can make a decision then.

“We need to do this to protect the town,” Vice Chairman Walter Gallagher said. “But now we need to think about what to bring to the town meeting.” 

The board also discussed the Nov. 7 referendum on funding a $5.7 million expansion and renovation of the Bruce M. Whittier Middle School and Poland Regional High School, which are in the same building.

The ballot question asks voters to authorize the school board to secure bonds for the project.

Gallagher said he was concerned because the process felt rushed, with little information or discussion. 

“Do we want our kids to be educated? Yes,” Selectperson Janice Kimball said. “Do we want them to be in a school and not modular classrooms? Of course.”

But, she said, it’s a very thin line for the people of Poland on fixed incomes. 

“It’s our job to balance those needs,” Selectperson Mary Beth Taylor said. 

Tetenman clarified that the $5.7 million doesn’t include interest, which is estimated at $1.46 million on a 15-year loan at 2.8 percent interest. 

He said taxes on a home assessed at $100,000 would increase by $40 a year if the referendum passes. He added that many homes in Poland are valued at $200,000 or more, which would be an increase of $80 to $100 a year. 

The board urged people to attend a presentation on the building project at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the high school.

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