GIRARD — Despite a request by Mayor Mark Zuppo to table, vote down or postpone a motion to place a moratorium on limiting marijuana dispensaries in the city, council voted 7-0 on the moratorium, which limits the number to only one in the city limits.

Zuppo told council at Monday’s meeting that the state budget is set to be voted on today and state representatives have said it looks good that the funds municipalities were originally to receive from the sales tax at the dispensaries would be 3.6%.

“From what they have told me, it looks like we will get our money. They are voting on this today,” Zuppo said.

He said when the state changed the amount that municipalities would receive, he brought the moratorium before council to limit the number of dispensaries in Girard to one. However, Zuppo said Monday he wanted council to wait until after the state budget is approved before acting on the final reading for the moratorium.

Council voted no on the motion to table or postpone the vote until after the state budget is voted on.

Zuppo said a second marijuana dispensary has expressed interest in locating in the city.

One is set to open at a building at the intersection of State Street and Churchill Road. Zuppo said the company plans to use the building there and add onto it.

He said he and other mayors, trustees and officials gathered a few weeks ago 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.

Councilman John Moliterno, D-at Large, recommended tabling the ordinance, but Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, recommended the moratorium be passed since it will have had three readings and then can be changed later based on what state officials decide this week.

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

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

“Tabling this cannot hurt,” he said.

Zuppo said he has heard that 3.6% of the sales tax indefinitely will be approved in the state budget.

Zuppo said he is going with other mayors this week to Washington, D.C. as part of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber annual fly-in and to speak with state officials.