WILTON – The Wilton select board met on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Town Manager Perry Ellsworth gave the board an update on the ongoing cannabis moratorium issue. He had presented this to the board in the past, suggesting a moratorium on all new cannabis operations as an opportunity to review the current ordinance and make any necessary adjustments. The proposed moratorium will last six months. Ellsworth was clear that it will not affect any ongoing businesses; any new ventures will be put on hold until the moratorium is over. Selectperson David Leavitt made a motion to accept the proposed moratorium language and set a public hearing on the topic of the ordinance for September 19. The board passed the motion unanimously.
The board discussed a public hearing for the general assistance program to discuss and accept the new payment structure. Selectperson Keith Swett made a motion to set the public hearing date for September 19, to follow the cannabis ordinance hearing.
“We are in trouble,” Ellsworth said in reference to the town’s general assistance program. The town of Wilton has been paying local hotels to support individuals in need of shelter since the state stopped funding the general assistance program. It is state mandated that the town pay for this need, even without the necessary funding.
“We are overseers of the poor,” Ellsworth reminded the board. “That’s part of your title.”
The money will come out of the town’s undesignated fund as an unanticipated expense, but it was necessary for the select board to vote on the issue. The board voted in favor of using the money from the undesignated fund, with Selectperson Mike Wells opposed.
Ellsworth gave an update on the search for a new town manager. The select board will form a committee with two members of the public and representatives from public works and the town office staff in addition to the full select board. This committee will have final approval on the hiring of a new town manager. The board set the last day to accept applications as September 18.
This meeting was recorded by Mt. Blue TV and is available for viewing online at MtBlueTV.org
