Finally, a unanimous vote

Selectmen settle on Sanctuary Medicinals, one of seven candidates hoping to locate a retail marijuana dispensary in Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Sanctuary Medicinals – one of seven applicants seeking to locate a retail marijuana dispensary in Saugus – was the only one left standing after Tuesday (Dec. 12) night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting. After denying the requests of five other candidates for a special permit (S-2) under town zoning bylaws, selectmen voted 4-0 to issue one of three available S-2 permits. Sanctuary Medicinals has submitted plans to build its dispensary at 181 Broadway, site of the former 99 Restaurant. Issuance of the S-2 permit enables the company to enter into a host community agreement with Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree.

The role of selectmen in the process that would lead Saugus to getting its first retail marijuana business is strictly focused on considering the safety and desirability of the location and its impact on the town. The issue of potential benefits to the town would be an issue when Crabtree meets with Sanctuary officials to negotiate an agreement.

Sanctuary was only one of two candidates that received a recommendation from the seven-member Marijuana Establishment Review Committee (MERC) for the S-2 permit. The business received a total of 118 points out of a possible 140 in a scoring system. “The Respondent’s proposed location is advantageous, and its extensive cannabis experience and current vertical integration business model are significant benefits,” the committee concluded in its analysis.

“The Respondent appeared to be one of the strongest positioned to open, succeed, and provide minimal or manageable impact to the surrounding neighborhood,” it noted.

Uma Flowers, LLC, with a proposed location at 24 Broadway (Route 1 North) – the site of a former house that was torn down – was the unanimous selection of the seven-member committee, 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. But Uma Flowers could only muster three of the selectmen’s four votes for the issuance of an S-2 permit.

Selectman Anthony Cogliano, who has been an outspoken critic of the MERC report and its ranking of Uma Flowers with a perfect score, cast the lone vote against Uma Flowers. “I don’t believe it’s in the top three locations,” Cogliano said at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“I’m not going to be boxed in on the vote,” he said.

Here’s how selectmen voted on the first five applicants, which were considered in the reverse order of how they were ranked by the MERC.

Broadway Cannabis

Selectman Michael Serino said Broadway hadn’t provided all the information initially requested by the town and also noted that there are about 25 residences close to the company’s proposed location at 1268 Broadway, the site of the former Out of Asia restaurant. Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta voted for Serino’s motion. Selectmen Cogliano and Corinne Riley voted against the measure to deny the permit.

Broadway Cannabis finished last in the MERC ranking with 0 points. Its proposed location presents significant challenges, according to the committee.

Bostica, LLC

Cogliano made the motion to approve an S-2 permit for Bostica’s proposed location at 44 Broadway. But the other three selectmen all voted against Bostica, which finished sixth in the MERC ranking with 25 points. The opponents cited the location as an issue.

Northeastcann

Riley made the motion to approve an S-2 permit for Northeastcann, for its proposed site at 1529 Broadway, the current Avalon Motel. The business finished fifth in the MERC ranking with 32 points. Cogliano voted to approve the permit. But Serino and Panetta voted against it citing their confidence in the MERC report’s recommendations. It failed 2-2.

Pat Russolillo, a retired major in the Massachusetts State Police, challenged the MERC findings about access being an issue for the site.

Olde World Remedies

Serino made the motion to deny the S-2 permit for the site at 173 Main St. – a current exotic car dealership. The company finished fourth in the ranking with 35 points. Riley and Panetta also voted to deny. Cogliano was the lone supporter.

Triple M Ventures

This company finished third in the MERC ranking, with 92 points. The committee expressed major concerns about the proposed dispensary site at 1393 Broadway, the current home of All Tune & Lube car repair services.

Cogliano said Triple M deserved to be the top-rated applicant instead of the third. He then raised questions as to why the committee and the town manager weren’t selecting a third business.

Panetta said the MERC probably recommended just two for an S-2 permit just to see how things would work out. Cogliano said it didn’t make sense, noting that if selectmen deny all the applicants, they can’t reapply for two years.

At that point, the company said it would like to withdraw its application rather than risk a two-year wait. Cogliano made the motion to grant the withdrawal request. Riley voted for it, too. But Panetta and Serino voted against the motion, which failed on a 2-2 vote.

Cogliano made the motion to approve the S-2 permit. Riley voted for it. But Panetta and Serino opposed it.