FARMINGTON — Selectmen decided Tuesday to postpone a decision on whether to support a legislative bill to regulate adult use of marijuana.

The decision was made after state Sen. Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, was unable to attend this week’s board meeting to request support of LD 1719.

The emergency bill facilitates the development and administration of a regulated marketplace in Maine for adult use marijuana and regulation of the personal use of marijuana, and the home cultivation of marijuana for personal adult use.

Luke Sirois, an advocate of legalizing marijuana, asked selectmen to endorse the bill to help get it passed. If Saviello can show communities are in support, it may help legislators decide on the bill, he said. 

“The intent is to promote a tightly regulated system,” Sirois said, one that would bring cannabis growers in to the Planning Board for licensing. The the town would know who’s growing, he said.

Farmington is planning to draft an Adult Use Marijuana Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance changes for it.

The Planning Board voted in December to “table any further action on the draft until the Legislature decides what it’s doing in this regard with LD 1719,” Code Enforcement Officer J. Stevens Kaiser wrote in a memo to selectmen. Kaiser was not able to attend the meeting.

“There is a very strong likelihood that the Legislature will enact another moratorium by the end of the month,” he said.

The local process is dependent on the state process, Town Manager Richard Davis said.

Maine Municipal Association is also working on a proposal for regulation, he said.

Selectman Matthew Smith said he was hesitant to speak for all residents in a resolution to support the bill.

“We all want to see it regulated,” Selectman Michael Fogg said. “But, I’m not informed enough to support the legislation.”

Selectman Stephan Bunker agreed, saying he likes to be clear on what he supports. He preferred to see what the bill includes before deciding whether to endorse it.

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FARMINGTON — Selectmen voted Tuesday to shorten the nomination process in order to fill a school director’s seat during annual elections in March. 

Regional School Unit 9 Director Ryan Morgan has resigned nearly a year after being elected to a three-year term.

Selectmen shortened the nomination process from 100 days to 10 days. Papers will be available Monday, Jan. 29, and need to be returned to the town clerk by the close of business Thursday, Feb. 8.

A minimum of 25 signatures are needed for nomination, Town Manager Richard Davis said.

The election will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, March 26, prior to the annual town meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the town clerk at 207-778-6539.