GIRARD — Mayor Mark Zuppo has vetoed an ordinance that placed a moratorium on the number of marijuana dispensaries for recreational use in the city to one, but city council has made a motion to place the issue back on the agenda for the July 28 meeting.

Zuppo said the state has agreed to give communities that have dispensaries 3.6% of $10 million generated. He said there is a dispensary set to open in mid-August at the intersection of Churchill Road and U.S. Route 422 and another one expressing interest in locating in the southern part of the city near Interstate 80.

Zuppo said he has spoken to store representatives at both locations. He said one location plans to use the building that is already there and add onto it.

Zuppo said he has spoken with Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz about the marijuana dispensary off Route 422 in Niles, which he was informed has been very busy, with the city expected to receive considerable funds from the 3.6%.

Zuppo said he estimates Girard can receive between $250,000 to $500,000 per dispensary with the 3.6% in place.

“It is important to encourage free enterprise and bring new business to the city,” he said.

Zuppo said he is concerned if the companies see there is a moratorium, they may reconsider locating in Girard.

He said while the state legislature was discussing the percentage that municipalities that have dispensaries would receive, officials statewide objected to the percentage being changed from what was voted on, so it was returned to 3.6%.

“There have been changes at the state level so the cities and townships will be receiving money,” he said.

In June, Zuppo and other mayors, trustees and officials gathered in Austintown, urging state officials to reinstate the amount of money the municipalities were originally scheduled to receive from the sales tax from the dispensaries. The state voted that the funds municipalities were originally to receive from the sales tax at the dispensaries would be 3.6%.

Some communities had approved moratoriums on limiting the number of facilities when the cities and townships were to get less money.

Zuppo said there is also discussion at the state of whether such establishments need to be one mile or a half-mile apart.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, made the motion to return the moratorium to the agenda.

Grumley said he would like to see the drawings of what the marjuana dispensary is planning for the building off Route 422 just as council members asked to see the drawings and hear plans when a Dollar General opened on Churchill Road.

Members of council have expressed concerns about the number of dispensaries in the city.

Zuppo said he will see how council votes on July 28 and noted they can override his veto and the moratorium would go into effect.

Zuppo has said because of Girard’s proximity to Interstate 80 and Route 11, he has received inquiries from companies wanting to locate in the area. Ohioans in 2023 voted to make recreational marijuana use legal.

Zuppo said the city also will receive income tax from the workers in addition to the sales tax revenue.

Council President Reynald Paolone said to override the mayor’s veto would require five of seven members of city council.