Lowell’s First Look met individually with each of the candidates running for City Council who will appear on the ballot on Tuesday, November 2. There are three seats up for election by voters. The two who receive the highest number of votes will receive a four-year term and the person who receives the third-highest number of votes will receive a two-year term.
Each candidate received the same questions. Each week in October we will bring you responses to the questions we asked in addition to a candidate profile. Answers are published verbatim and have not been edited.
Do you think the current ordinance and zoning for recreational marijuana businesses within the City of Lowell is working well or should it be changed? If so, how?
Marty Chambers
Yes I believe it is working well. But we do need to always be looking at it to modify if the need arises.
Jake Davenport
I have made my views on this issue very clear. I am not against Pot shops, but I am not in favor of so many of them. I think the Zoning should have been more restrictive to help curb the number of dispensaries. Specifically, I think they should be disallowed from being in or close to residential areas. I also think that they should have been limited to the West end of town. The 1000-foot buffer zones as required by City Ordnance should be 2000 or 3000. I do however agree with Councilmember Yankovich, that the hours of operations clause of the ordnance is to restrictive. I think that hours of operation should be in line with those of Alcohol at 2 AM.
Leah Groves
No, I don’t. However, I wasn’t present when the citizens of Lowell voted to allow the sale of recreational marijuana and I wasn’t present when the zoning limits were set. It’s because of this that maybe my perspective is different than other council members. Regarding the question, “Aren’t there enough?” Which is a fair question, I might add. The answer for me is, yes, there are enough. Though, I understand setting a limit on any type of business puts a target on the city for potential lawsuits. I trust my fellow council that they did the right thing. I do believe the free market will balance the number out in the coming years. I am enjoying the opening of new business doors, updated exteriors, and beautiful landscaping.
Jim Salzwedel
I have always been in favor and see no need to change at this time
How do you think the city should spend any extra money it receives from sources such as marijuana taxes or COVID-19 stimulus money?
Marty Chambers
City streets
Jake Davenport
Our two biggest liabilities are infrastructure, and our unfunded liabilities. To Fix all of streets would cost 10-11 million per the 2019 city street studies. According to MERS our pension liability is only 60% funded and has a total liability of approximately 4 million. COVID money is difficult to spend because they specifically bar it from being spent on infrastructure and pension liabilities. I think that we should find a way to move general fund monies around so that we can fund our liabilities and infrastructure. We need to keep working on these ongoing issues.
Leah Groves
Truthfully, I think the use of this money should be discussed at council and voted on how it is dispersed. The citizens of the city voted to allow the sale of recreational marijuana; I think it would be wise if we don’t leave them completely out of the discussion on how this money is spent.
Jim Salzwedel
We need to make sure we follow with in the guide lines for the COVID-19 stimulus monies that have been provided to us. The marijuana taxes should help offset our budget short fall and should’ve used thought the city.
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