CORTLAND — City Council on Monday gave final approval to guidelines and procedures in the event that a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivating facility would seek to locate in the community.

Mayor Jim Woofter said the guidelines are in place to protect the city.

“There must be a review prior to approval at an open meeting of the city’s planning and zoning commission. A public hearing would be required. This a method for the city to have in place for handling such businesses,” he said.

Such establishments would only be able to be located in industrial and commercial zoned districts.

Law Director Patrick Wilson said when an applicant comes into the city, the city will “have the legal structure in place to either approve or disapprove. If it is disapproved. the legal structure will be in place to be upheld in court.”

The ordinances passed identifies such facilities as being permitted only upon review. Woofter said medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivators will be required to have a public hearing before the commission can approve or deny its entry.

If a medical marijuana business wants to come into the city, zoning officials must have a public hearing for residents to express their concerns before the commission is able to approve or deny the business entry.

Officials said the guidelines were needed because medical marijuana facilities are not covered in zoning rules.

In other business, council will hear from a representative of state Treasurer Josh Mandell’s office 6 p.m. April 16 on how the Ohio Checkbook program works and how the public can access it. Woofter said council will act on accepting Ohio Checkbook at a future meeting.

The system would provide open online access to the city’s finances.

“Every penny that the city spends will be available for anyone to see online,” Woofter said.

He said representatives will build a website and work with Finance Director Patti Gibson to set up the system.

Also, council approved the move of Teresa Barnovsky to assistant finance director, effective Thursday. Barnovsky was previously the administrative assistant to the mayor and service director.

Barnovsky will be paid $18.75 an hour. On Oct. 1, the pay will bump to $19.33 an hour, and go up to $19.72 an hour a year later.

Woofter said the city is in the process of taking applications for administrative assistant through Monday.