SALEM — City council discussed revisiting the possibility of permitting the construction of a marijuana dispensary in the city in its meeting Tuesday.

Councilman Ron Zellers said that when the decision was made not to reverse the city’s moratorium on the issuance of permits for a recreational marijuana facility within city limits the members of council agreed to revisit the matter as a possible stream of revenue for the city, and that the time for those discussions was now.

“The time has come for us to move forward on this because the window’s closing. Legislation is being introduced at the state level to limit the number of dispensaries allowed,” said Zellers.

City Law Director Brooke Zellers explained that legislation had been introduced at the state level which could potentially cap the number of dispensaries statewide at 350, and that the state was “rapidly approaching that limit.” Brooke Zellers also said that he, Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, City Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello and Police Chief J.T. Panezott had recently met with Girard Mayor Mike Zuppo, who had a “significant contact” in the Office of Marijuana Control and had shared their information with him and that he could contact them “to see if they can send somebody [to the city] to talk to about” dispensaries.

It was ultimately decided that Brooke Zellers would attempt to arrange a meeting with a representative from the Office of Marijuana Control to discuss the possibility with council at the committee level.

Council also heard comments from Super Cruise Director Dennis Plegge, who said that he wanted to clarify some details about the annual Salem Super Cruise amid recent misconceptions on social media. Plegge stressed that the Super Cruise is not a city event and is instead organized entirely by “private citizens” like himself and the volunteers he collaborates with. Plegge also championed the benefits the Super Cruise offers the community.

“We ask the city for use of their infrastructure; this involved their parking lot, their electric, the city road, fire and police departments, and the cruise itself makes enough money to pay all the overtime for them. The Salem [Super] Cruise is set up to raise money for the local churches and food banks, after all expenses are paid every dime goes to them,” said Plegge. “Local businesses also make money from the nearly 20,000 people the four-day event brings into the city of Salem. I’ve given my heart and soul to this event and I’m proud of the job I’ve done, and I thank the city of Salem for letting me do it, but if anyone wants to see what it takes to put this cruise together you’re more than welcome to come take a walk in my shoes with me for a couple weeks and you might change your mind.”.

Council also voted unanimously to approve a resolution accepting a $20,000 donation from the Columbiana County Commissioners to defray the cost of contributing an officer the Columbiana County Drug Enforcement Task Force, and an ordinance authorizing Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello to advertise for bids and enter contracts for the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel for the city for up to a one-year period.

During his report City Councilman Andrew Null announced that the finance committee would be meeting prior to council’s next meeting 6 p.m. Feb. 18.

Other business included giving a first reading to an ordinance approving appropriations and transfers.

City council will meet next at 7 p.m. Feb. 18.