Council denies support for one cannabis firm

The Township Council rejected a resolution to support Canabhang’s application to the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission for a retail business license.

Five council members voted no and Michael Chazukow abstained. No one commented on the issue.

In May, the council agreed to reconsider a similar resolution that it had defeated at its April 19 meeting.

Council members did approve resolutions supporting Shnicks Shnacks’ applications for cannabis cultivator and manufacturer licenses.

Nicholas Powers and Otto Blythe, chief executive and chief operating officer, respectively, of that business thanked township officials for making the application process easy.

”Every other town has made this cannabis journey an unsurmountable task,” Powers said. “But West Milford has been a breath of fresh air. ... I really am grateful for how you guys conduct business here.”

Chazukow said he was excited about Shnicks Shnacks’s offerings. “It falls into the broader plan of having industry in West Milford. ... What you’re doing is actually going to be instrumental in the township’s continued success. Your success is our success.”

He also pointed out that the council had just approved a 2023 license for Mountain View Farmacy, 74 Oak Ridge Road, Newfoundland, to be a cannabis retailer. That makes Mountain View Farmacy the first fully compliant licensed cannabis business in West Milford, he pointed out.

Registration fees

The council approved an ordinance that requires whoever is responsible for vacant abandoned residential properties to file an annual certificate of registration with the township clerk.

The fee for the first year is $250, for the second year is $500 and it increases by $250 for every following year.

The council introduced proposed ordinances that would:

• Repeal the township’s prohibition on the advertisement, display or sale of drug paraphernalia in light of the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis and West Milford’s approval of businesses with licenses to cultivate, manufacture and sell cannabis.

• Create no-parking zones on parts of High Crest and Hearthstone drives.

Public hearings and final votes will be held July 12.

Lifeguard incentives

Council members approved a resolution to create an incentive program to attract lifeguards for Bubbling Springs in light of the current shortage.

The township will reimburse the $305 cost of the lifeguard training class for anyone who completes the class, is hired and does not call out for any of the scheduled shifts.

In addition, all Bubbling Springs lifeguards will receive $100 if they do not call out for any of the scheduled shifts and $50 if they have only one call out.

Other resolutions approved would:

• Authorize a contract for no more than $1.1 million with Schifano Construction Co. of Middlesex for road resurfacing.

• Authorize a contract for no more than $68,000 with Cifelli & Son General Contracting of Nutley for road resurfacing and curbs.

• Increase the amount of the contract with R.J. Michaels & Co. of East Orange for renovations and alterations of the annex building, which formerly housed the library, by no more than $17,907. The total cost of the contract now is $745,015.

The council honored Sean McNally, who recently became an Eagle Scout. His Eagle Scout project was to place three recycled plastic benches on the StoryWalk at Nosenzo Pond Park.

Officials also had a moment of silence in memory of David Hardin, a retired captain of the West Milford Police Department. He died June 11 at age 73.