Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 15, 2023 POT SHOP | FROM PAGE 1 Wednesday night’s meeting, Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta said she was prepared to vote on which applicants were most deserving of the S-2 license. “I would have taken a vote tonight if they were ready,” Panetta said. “There were some presentations that were much more in depth with much more information than others. And some of these operators had much more experience,” she said. But Cogliano said he was in “no hurry” to vote and insisted that the board’s investigation involve site visits of facilities run by each of the applicants. Selectmen voted 4-0 to continue the hearings until Oct. 4. “I want to come up with my own conclusions. I intend to do our own investigation and due diligence,” Cogliano said. Selectman Jeff Cicolini has previously recused himself from participating in the hearings because of a potential conflict of interest – one of the seven companies is a client of his accounting firm. Since S-2 permits require a four-fifth’s approval by selectmen, any of the applicants will need the backing of the other four selectmen. Obtaining consensus on any of the applications could be challenging, as there is disagreement over how the selectmen should pursue their review of the S-2 permit applications. For instance, Selectman Michael Serino said he will not participate in any site review of the applications. Selectman Panetta said she will limit her participation to Saugus sites only. “I will go to a site visit in my hometown, not in another community,” Panetta said. “Our job is location – to find the best location in Saugus. We are granting a special permit – not a license. I want to do the right thing for the town. It would be great if all four of us can agree. If we can’t come to a consensus, we wind up with zero,” she said. Panetta has concerns about the board focusing on its own responsibilities instead of matters that don’t involve its duties. On Tuesday, she sought a legal opinion from Town Counsel John Vasapolli on Special Permit Marijuana Establishments. She even wondered whether the board should be discussing host community benefits. Article 22 of the town’s Zoning Bylaws “provides that the Board of Selectmen shall consider that the establishment is designed to minimize any adverse impact on abutters and other parties in interest, meets all permitting requirements of the Commonwealth and state laws, meets all zoning requirements, provides adequate security to protect the health and safety of others, and adequately addresses the issues of traffic demand and parking,” Vasapoli advised in his legal opinion. “The role of the Board of Selectmen is exclusively as a special permit granting authority for the use of a Marijuana establishment at the particular location under the Zoning bylaws of the Town of Saugus. This role does not include discussion or negotiation of benefits to the town pursuant to a host community agreement as the negotiation of the Host Community Agreement is Our 51st Anniversary Dan - 1972 We Sell Cigars & Accessories! 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The Board of Selectmen sit as special permit granting authority under the zoning bylaws and the town manager negotiates and executes the Host Community Agreement with the Marijuana establishments that meet the criteria he has established.” Selectman Corinne Riley said is concerned that six of the seven applicants had updated information in the MERC report or questioned its accuracy. With so much disagreement, Riley said. she would like to have a meeting with Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and the committee to review the concerns. “I’d like to have a meeting with the manager and the committee to find out what’s the truth,” Riley said. “I just feel that we should have something to ask the committee and the town manager. We’re hearing two different things.” Cogliano said the board should have had such a meeting before the report was finalized. Cogliano said he was disappointed that Crabtree did not attend this week’s hearings so he could answer questions. “He should be sitting here answering questions as the town manager,” Cogliano said. Committee members included Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli, Fire Chief Michael Newbury, Director of Public Health John R. Fralick III, Procurement Director Michele Wendell, Vice Chair of the Saugus Planning Board Jeanette Meredith and Building Commissioner Michael LaVecchia. “These people are honorable people,” Panetta said, responding to Cogliano’s criticism that they conducted an “unfair” review. Cogliano criticized the town manager for the way he handled the review. “I’m sure it would be different if he weren’t involved in it,” he said. Cogliano said he was investigated by the Ethics Commission for his ties to three marijuana companies, but was cleared. “The problem I have with the entire process is the same problem I have with everything involving the Town manager, communication. “After nine months we were handed a report from the MERC and told to accept it. I asked for a meeting with the POT SHOP | SEE PAGE 4
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