BUCKFIELD — After revisiting the topic of recreational marijuana legalization Tuesday night, Buckfield selectmen opted to hold the scheduled special town meeting to vote on a moratorium later this month.

Town Manager Cindy Dunn said she had several questions about why selectmen opted to hold a special town meeting on an ordinance to put a hold on marijuana retail stores and social clubs in town.

The moratorium, if passed, would last for 180 days, yet the state has nine months to set its regulations for recreational marijuana. She said she contacted attorney Sue Pilgrim of the Maine Municipal Association for answers.

“As we all know, Buckfield is not the only one shooting to a special town meeting to get this moratorium,” Dunn said. “(Pilgrim’s) response, in essence, is by doing so, it just makes the town feel all that much safer to know that they — the town or the city — has its own moratorium in place.”

Dunn said this gives the town time to figure out whether it wants its own regulations.

“Buckfield can create and adopt an ordinance that is more strict than the state, but not less strict than the state,” she said.

Selectman Warren Wright said he favored a special town meeting to see whether voters wanted a moratorium.

“It is really like an insurance policy,” he said.

Selectman Maida DeMers-Dobson said that without having any regulations yet from the state, a moratorium gives town officials time to “wait and see what’s going on in Augusta.”

After state regulations are adopted, selectmen can examine what makes sense for the residents of Buckfield.

Dunn and Wright said selectmen can extend the moratorium beyond the initial 180 days if selectmen feel they need more time, without going to a special town meeting again.

The special town meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, in the Buckfield High School cafeteria/auditorium at 160 Morrill St.

In other news, selectmen:

• Accepted the financial report dated July 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016.

• Voted to have Dunn share copies of the quarterly financial report to members of the Budget Committee after Budget Committee member Vivian Wadas asked if it would be prudent to do so.

• Heard from new Regional School Unit 10 Superintendent Deb Alden about the future of the school district after the withdrawal of Dixfield, Canton, Carthage, Peru and Byron. She said she didn’t have much information yet because officials are beginning their budget process, but she would share more as information as it becomes available.

• Went into executive session for a personnel matter and did not take any action on the matter after resuming the meeting.

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