If the conclusion of the Saugus Board of Selectmen’s cannabis hearings on Tuesday proved anything, it’s that the divisions between board members remain as entrenched as ever, despite a reshuffling of members’ roles during the town election last month.
Selectmen ultimately approved only one of seven dispensary proposals, that of Sanctuary Medicinals, which, pending Host Community Agreement negotiations with Town Manager Scott Crabtree, will open its doors at 181 Broadway, the former site of the 99 Restaurant. Members failed to reach a consensus on any of the other six applications before them, with Chair Debra Panetta and Selectman Michael Serino voting for only two proposals — Sanctuary, and Uma Flowers. Both of those companies were recommended by the Marijuana Establishment Review Committee convened by Crabtree earlier this year in its report published in July.
It’s not a surprise that Panetta and Serino opted to follow the recommendations made by the committee. That body’s members included public safety officials and other town department heads, many of whom make recommendations to the board on other S-2 permit applications. The report, it seems, essentially took the place of those recommendations.
And, both said several times during the hearings that they were only voting on the company’s proposed location in Saugus, rather than the myriad other factors cited in the report.
But, Selectman Anthony Cogliano held firm in his opposition to the report’s findings — ultimately voting in favor of each dispensary application other than Uma Flowers at 24 Broadway, which he had criticized essentially since the report’s issuance in July. Selectman Corinne Riley, arguably Cogliano’s closest ally on the board, split the difference between the two camps — voting in favor of some proposals, and in opposition to others.
The board’s vice chair, Jeff Cicolini, who could have in theory swayed the vote toward Uma Flowers, recused himself from the hearings because one of the companies does business with the accounting firm he works for. As a result, the board had to reach unanimity on the companies.
Now, the sole cannabis retailer in town will be located north of Walnut Street on the southbound side of Route 1. None of the companies that applied for permits and had their applications denied will be able to re-apply for two years, limiting the prospects of an additional retailer opening in the coming years. And, it’s not clear whether or not the town will again issue a request for information and reassemble the committee as cannabis retailers continue to pursue locations in Saugus.
Attorney Valerio Romano, who represented Uma throughout the process, which consumed almost the entire calendar year, said Wednesday that the company was “perplexed” by the reasons Cogliano cited for his opposition.
“This was his opportunity to give voters what he promised,” Romano said, noting Cogliano’s comments about bringing marijuana to Saugus to boost revenue for the town. “The reasons that were enunciated by Mr. Cogliano were simply false.”
Of course, Uma was not the only company to leave Town Hall disappointed Tuesday night.
Pat Russolillo, a security consultant for NortheastCann and a retired State Police captain, made his objections to the process known during the hearings, after Serino voiced safety concerns regarding NortheastCann’s proposed location at the Avalon Motel.
“Route 1 is State Police property. That was my area. I know that area. I’m an expert in that area,” he said.
Russolillo, on more than one occasion, indicated he believed the process was not fair.
He was the lone representative for any company to speak after their applications were denied — and while some companies, including NortheastCann and Uma, made last-ditch sales pitches before votes were taken, they appeared to fall on deaf ears. Cogliano was the lone board member asking questions during the resumed hearings, but much like his fellow board members, he appeared to have his mind made up before the night began.
Cogliano gave voice to that during the hearings.
“I could’ve told you this an hour and a half ago, we could’ve all gone home at 7 o’clock,” he said. “It’s a predetermined outcome.”
And, despite his desire to boost the town’s revenue, Cogliano would not ultimately support Uma Flowers, even after it was the only company still in the running.
“First of all, we had a place that was vertically integrated, we voted no for that applicant. This applicant is not vertically integrated (and) … we had much better locations,” he said. “I’m not going to be boxed in on a vote.”
Cogliano did not return a call Wednesday seeking additional clarity on his vote against Uma.
