Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 13, 2023 POTSHOTS | FROM PAGE 1 rupt as Panetta continued her angry rant. “There we go, Deb,” Cogliano said. “I’ve already been through all of this crap, and I’m sure it’s coming up again, and I really don’t care,” he said. Bracing for a lawsuit? Both Panetta and Selectman Michael Serino said they believe comments Cogliano recently made about Uma Flowers could cost the town financially after an attorney for the company took issue with several of Cogliano’s criticisms and sent a letter to him and other members of the board. “Quite frankly, I think we’re going to end up in a court battle here,” Serino said, referring to the detailed letter from Attorney Valerio Romano. The Marijuana Establishment Review Committee (MERC) issued a report that ranked Uma Flowers as best-suited location for an adult-use cannabis business in Saugus. With a proposed location at 24 Broadway (Route 1 North), Uma Flowers was the unanimous selection of the seven-member MERC, achieving a perfect score of 140 total points, based on an “exceptional” rating by each member in each of the five categories that were considered. At Wednesday’s meetings, Cogliano continued to defend his criticism of the MERC report. “I don’t agree with that report, whatsoever,” Cogliano said. He said the committee failed to do thorough research before making its recommendations. “That report is inclusive. It makes no sense to me,” Cogliano said, adding that if he went around with a video camera, documenting what he observed at places run by the businesses seeking the S-2 permits, “The residents of Saugus would be scratching their heads. Chair accuses colleagues of “rubber stamping” Crabtree Cogliano also said the MERC report was unfair and “vindictive” toward the businesses where he had disclosed a potential conflict. And he also questioned the reluctance of Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree to meet with him and discuss the report. “Communication is horrible with this town manager,” he said, insisting that Crabtree should have attended Wednesday’s meeting to answer questions. “You guys want to rubber stamp everything he says, go right ahead,” Cogliano told his colleagues. Panetta didn’t like Cogliano’s criticism. “I take offense when you say we rubber stamp everything,” Panetta said. “These people are responsible people and they’re very well-respected. You’re questioning their integrity,” he said. Serino called Cogliano’s criticism of the MERC “a disgrace.” Serino also questioned the chair’s decision to review outof-town facilities owned by the companies. “We’re here to talk about location, not to discuss qualifications,” Serino said. Cogliano said he was just being thorough in his quest to determine what company would be the best for Saugus. “When it comes to business, I’d like to see who I think is going to make it here and not make it here,” Cogliano said. “I want to have that discussion.” Cogliano criticized the MERC for only recommending two permits, when it could have three. Worst of all, Cogliano said, he feared the town may only get Our 51st Anniversary Dan - 1972 We Sell Cigars & Accessories! ALL MAJOR BRANDS Singles * Tins * Bundles * Boxes * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES SMOKER’S DELIGHT! 15 HANDMADE CIGARS! Four-Year-Old Tobacco * 100% Long Filler * Cellophane $49.95 NEW STORE HOURS: Sun. - Wed.: 9AM - 6PM / Thurs. - Sat. 9AM - 7PM R.Y.O. TOBACCO & TUBES ON SALE! WE MAKE HOUSE KEYS! Green Label Cigar Sale! Buy 2 Cigars, Get One FREE! A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 Chris 2023 DISCORD ON THE BOARD: Wednesday night’s hearing degenerated to a heated argument between Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta and Chair Anthony Cogliano. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) one marijuana establishment when it comes time to vote. Serino criticized Cogliano for poor leadership by not making sure that neighbors near the businesses had been notified. “He’s the chair. He should have known two weeks ago,” Serino said. “He wants to run the town – what a joke. The whole board has been not too good over the last year,” he said. The leadership duel continues After the meeting, the board’s two top leaders expressed additional concerns about the situation. Cogliano sent this email to The Saugus Advocate: “I think the members of the BOS are elected for one reason and one reason only, and that is to do what’s in the best [interest] of the town of Saugus...not be a rubber stamp for the Town Manager. I always do my homework....if the other members did theirs, they’d know the MERC report is extremely vindictive against anyone that has a connection to me and extremely flawed. I’ve asked for months to sit with the Manager and his committee and I get nothing in return. If this instance doesn’t show how desperate we are in Saugus to rewrite our charter, nothing will. I’m tired of it, the voters should be too. We need a change.” Panetta emailed this statePOTSHOTS | SEE PAGE 5
3 Publizr Home