SPRINGFIELD — The City Council on Monday approved host community agreements with the first four companies selected by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to open the first recreational marijuana shops in Springfield.

The votes provide the first step approval for the companies, which also need to obtain special permits from the City Council and licenses from the state Cannabis Control Commission.

The approved agreements were with the following companies:

INSA Inc., at the former Luxe Burger Bar, 1200 West Columbus Ave., in the South End. INSA already has the city’s only medical marijuana dispensary on Cottage Street in East Springfield.

Holistic Industries, at 1300 Boston Road, within a shopping plaza next to Moe’s Southwest Grill.

6 Brick’s LLC, at the Gasoline Alley business site, 259 Albany St., in the McKnight neighborhood.

311 Page Blvd LLC, at that address in East Springfield, formerly the Crossfit Journey Gym,

Councilors praised the companies for presentations made last week and Monday night, regarding their background, plans for employment, and efforts to hire local residents and minorities, among other requirements and goals.

The votes were unanimous for 6 Brick’s LLC and 311 Page Blvd LLC.

The other two companies were approved by 10-1 votes, with council President Justin Hurst voting against the agreement with INSA, and Councilor E. Henry Twigges voting against the agreement with Holistic Industries.

The Monday night meeting followed a sharp disagreement Friday between some councilors and Sarno regarding the marijuana review process in Springfield. Sarno said he was “offended” by a reference to corruption charges against Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia, that accuses Correia of accepting bribes from marijuana firms looking to open in Fall River.

Sarno continued to object in a new press release on Monday.

“The process that we undertook was completely transparent and adhered to all the laws and regulations pertaining to the licensing of recreational marijuana,” Sarno said Monday. "We hired an outside independent consultant, Atty. Julie Steiner, who specializes specifically in this field to oversee this process to work with our professional 11 member review and three member Host Community Agreement (HCA) Committees to assess and grade each proposal.”

On Monday, as requested by Hurst, the companies submitted information regarding their hired consultants.

Councilor Marcus Williams was absent from Monday’s meeting, and Councilor Michael Fenton abstained due to avoid any conflict of interest related to work done by his law firm.

Under the host community agreements, all four companies are required to pay to the city 3% of their gross revenue from the retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products -- the highest local tax on marijuana allowed under state law.

Representatives of INSA said they are voluntarily paying $20,000 a year for five years for the Environmental Center of Our Schools (ECOS) program at Forest Park, and $20,000 a year for five years for maintenance and improvements at Riverfront Park.