By Chris Hamel
The Springfield Republican
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — In a marathon session on Monday night, the Town Council approved a marijuana ordinance and opposed revocation of the Quinn Bill for police officers.
The 4 1/2-hour meeting at the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building ended with applause by off-duty police and their supporters, after seven of the nine councilors voted against dumping the state’s Quinn Bill, which provides pay incentives for further education.
At issue was whether West Springfield could fund the state program at 100 percent in the future. The state, which had provided 50 percent of the funding, has cut back its reimbursement to about 10 percent.
In June, Mayor Edward J. Gibson said the city expects to receive about $61,000 to $65,000 in state reimbursement, rather than nearly $400,000. Voting to rescind the bill were Council President Gerard B. Matthews and District 2 Councilor Cynthia J. Romaniak.
Voting against revocation were Councilors-at-Large Paul H. Boudo, Kathleen A. Bourque, Robert M. Mancini and Vernon T. Coleman, District 1 Councilor Angus M. Rushlow, District 3 Councilor Michael J. Finn and District 4 Councilor John R. Sweeney.
The lengthy discussion of the Quinn Bill issue prompted two recesses and a vote to continue the meeting past its usual three-hour running time. Romaniak said she was torn on the matter, on the one hand realizing the potential loss of income to the police, but on the other trying to do what was fiscally sound for the city.
But some councilors, including Coleman and Rushlow, made clear that they would not back down on the prior commitment to provide Quinn Bill benefits.
“Why penalize our first responders?” Coleman asked.
The marijuana ordinance moved swiftly through the council, winning unanimous support. Although there was a public hearing and about 100 people were present in the gallery, there was no comment by residents.
The ordinance, which governs the public use of marijuana, comes on the heels of the state’s reducing to a civil penalty the possession of one ounce or less of the drug. The state statute went into effect in January.
The ordinance, which previously saw support from Police Chief Thomas E. Burke, will allow police discretion to enforce public pot consumption violations with either criminal or non-criminal disposition.
The criminal offense will bring a $300 fine. The non-criminal fines will be $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second offense. The fines will be in addition to the state fine of $100 for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.
West Springfield joined a growing list of area communities that have beefed up local marijuana ordinances: Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, Ludlow, Belchertown, Palmer and Hadley.
Copyright 2009 The Republican