New law allows medical pot uses
The Amity Township Board of Supervisors recently adopted an ordinance setting up conditions to allow cannabis growers, processors and dispensaries to operate in the township.
Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in April 2016 with passage of the Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act.
The state Department of Health announced on Dec. 18 the names of 23 “dispensary permit winners for Phase II of the Commonwealth’s Medical Marijuana Program.”
Permittees have until the middle of June to become operational in order to begin dispensing medical marijuana.
None of the permittees have applied for a business permit
or submitted land development plans to Amity Township.
The ordinance now states that growers and processors are a use “permitted by right” in the township’s Light Industrial Office District.
Dispensaries are now a use permitted by right in the Shopping Center Commercial District.
Also in the ordinance are definitions for “dispensaries,” “growers/processors,” and then a reference to the Medical Marijuana Act and all of its rules and regulations.
In other business discussed at the Feb. 6 supervisors’ meeting, board members voted 3-2 to enter into a modified “fee for services” stray animals agreement with the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, based in Cumru Township.
Township Manager Troy Bingaman said the League rejected the board’s Jan. 16 agreement.
The board stated in that agreement that only Amity Police and township staff could use the League’s stray animal services, whereby reducing the League’s estimate of $14,000 to $16,000 in fees charged to the township.
“They cannot manage that relationship,” said Bingaman, adding, “Every municipality has to be the same.”
The Animal Rescue League is the only largescale facility in Berks County that is handling animal control needs in most of the county’s municipalities.
It was requiring by Jan. 31 a fee agreement from each Berks County municipality, or it would stray animal services to that municipality, including the ability to drop-off animals.
Bingaman is part of a recently-formed committee that is preparing a request for proposal to solicit for other animal control services similar to those offered by the Animal Rescue League.
League staff said in October that the non-profit, 501c3 organization was losing $1.1 million a year in the stray animal shelter services that it provides.
The supervisors rejected in November the fee for services agreement, citing the League’s inability to prove certain facts, including what municipality a stray animal is found in, if it was found by an Amity Township resident or a non-resident, as well as whether the animal was a stray or an owner surrender.
They also rejected on Nov. 21 the $2 per-capita stray animal fee agreement, which would have cost the township $30,000 a year.
The motion on Feb. 6 was rejected by supervisors Terry L. Jones and Paul R. Weller.
“Why is it the responsibility of taxpayers to pay for stray animals?” asked Jones, who also referred to the particulars in the League’s fee agreement (with its three to four fee levels) as joining a country club.
Bingaman said the township’s agreement will be month-to-month with a 30-day termination requirement.
State Sen. Katie J. Muth, D-44th Dist., will be at the next board meeting to present a Commemorative Citation to the township for its 300th anniversary in 2019.
Muth will host “Coffee with Katie,” on Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Michael’s Diner, 1211 Benjamin Franklin Highway (Route 422), Douglassville.
She will also have monthly house in the township every second Friday, from 1 to 3 p.m., regarding any state government issue or service.