SAUGUS Vol. 27, No.6 Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe Here! C TE D O AT CAT -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday TEEN TUTORS 781-233-4446 Friday, February 7, 2025 Saugus will get a second pot shop on Route 1 Selectmen issue a special permit to Uma Flowers to locate a marijuana dispensary at 24 broadway By Mark E. Vogler M ore than a year after falling one vote short of obtaining Lukeman Nouri helps Saugus High junior Anna Tum with her math at the Saugus Public Library. Lukeman, a senior at the Pioneer Charter School of Science II, created the Tutoring Circle, a free service to help students in all grades. Please see inside for more photos and this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) a special permit to operate a retail marijuana dispensary on Route 1 in Saugus, Uma Flowers prevailed on a second chance before the Board of Selectmen. The board’s vice chair – Jeff rey Cicolini – who had recused himself from the hearings that led to Uma being denied an S-2 permit back in December of 2023 – cast what proved to be the decisive fourth vote. Selectmen voted 4-0 in favor of Uma, with Selectman Anthony Cogliano voting “present” after opposing Uma’s application 13 months ago. A state Land Court judge back in December ordered that the board’s previous 3-1 vote be annulled and the case be returned to selectmen for a new hearing. In a court complaint leading up to the judge’s ruling, Uma alleged that Cogliano “appeared to act with bias against Uma and in favor of Bostica,” another company competing for an S-2 permit. Cicolini didn’t participate in the previous hearings after citing a potential confl ict of interest because of his company’s relationship with one of the seven applicants. Cicolini said he consulted with the state Ethics Commission, which advised him the confl ict no longer existed because his fi rm’s client was not selected in the previous hearings. “I verifi ed with the Ethics Commission that I could participate,” Cicolini said. With the town issuing an S-2 permit to Uma, there are now two retail pot establishments planned for Saugus – one in the northbound lane of Route 1; the other in the southbound lane. In December of 2023, selectmen voted 4-0 to issue one POT SHOP | SEE PAGE 2 MARCHETTI CORP. 46 Years of Excellence!! 1978-2024 aded $2.839 Reg $2 2 839 MidUnleaded $3.379 Super $3.479 Diesel Fuel $3.539 Hours: Monday thru Friday 6 AM to 7 PM / Saturdays 7 AM to 5 PM / Sundays 9 AM to 5 PM Kerosene Available! HEATING O L IL ULS $4.759 $3.47 9 DEF Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! 24-Hour Burner Service Open an account and order online at: FLEET Prices subject to change
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