Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Springfield - A City Council committee has scheduled a meeting July 12 at City Hall to evaluate the negotiated conditions for a medical marijuana dispensary in East Springfield, including annual payments to the city and charitable donations.
The council's Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to consider the proposed host community agreement at 4 p.m. The agreement with the developer, Hampden Care Facility, contains numerous terms and conditions for the project.
The agreement was negotiated between the company and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and his top advisers for the dispensary planned at 506 Cottage St. within an industrial area. The council approved a special permit for the project last week, but the permit is on hold pending council approval of the host community agreement.
Sarno said his administration followed all the proper procedures in reaching an agreement with Hampden Care Facility after conducting "due diligence" in recent months.
"Our goal here is to get those who are suffering the medical relief they need ASAP," Sarno said in comments last week. "I am hopeful our City Council renders a decision to help these individuals and families in need ASAP."
Councilors including council President Michael Fenton and committee Chairman
Adam Gomez said the mayor had months to deliberate, and they must do their own due diligence in accepting the terms of the host community agreement and proposing amendments.
Under the agreement, Hampden Care Facility agreed to "donate" annual payments to the city starting at a rate of 3 percent of its gross revenue in 2017, and to donate $50,000 directly to the police department. The donation will rise to 4 percent in 2018, and to 5 percent in 2019, repeating at 5 percent in 2020 and 2021, along with the $50,000 to the police department each year.
The donation will rise to 6 percent of gross revenue in each of the next three years, 2022 to 2024, before rising to 7 percent in 2024, and subsequent years, with continued donations of $50,000 to the police department.
There is also a provision for the company to create 15 new full time jobs within 18 months of the agreement and to annually give $2,500 each to the East Springfield Neighborhood Council and the Indian Orchard Citizens Council.
Some councilors raised concerns that once the agreement is approved, and the annual payments go to the city's general fund, the council will have no say over how the funds would be spent, relying the mayor's budget discretion.
Some councilors also suggested that other donations to neighborhoods might be considered.
Some councilors have also raised concerns about a clause in the agreement that stipulates the city not issue letters of support or non-opposition to any other company for a marijuana plant for a period of 10 years. Some councilors questioned if that amounted to a monopoly for Hampden Care Facility.
City Solicitor Edward M. Pikua, in response, said the host community agreement "provides the mayor with the flexibility reopen" negotiations to revise or eliminate certain terms or conditions.
The council has already voted to stipulate that at least 33 percent of the employees hired must be Springfield residents and at least 33 percent of the employees must be minorities, and will consider other new conditions, councilors said.
Pikula said the council does have the power to propose amendments, but any conditions need the review and approval of the developer and mayor.
Separately, as part of its special permit application, the company has already committed to multiple around-the-clock security systems including numerous cameras, fences and security personnel for the medical marijuana dispensary.
Hampden Care Facility's proposal for a medical marijuana dispensary was chosen in February as the "most advantageous" of six proposals submitted to the city, followed by negotiations of the host community agreement.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: MA: City Council Mulls Conditions For Medical Marijuana Dispensary In E. Springfield
Author: Peter Goonan
Contact: Massachusetts Local News
Photo Credit: Peter Goonan
Website: Massachusetts Local News
The council's Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to consider the proposed host community agreement at 4 p.m. The agreement with the developer, Hampden Care Facility, contains numerous terms and conditions for the project.
The agreement was negotiated between the company and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and his top advisers for the dispensary planned at 506 Cottage St. within an industrial area. The council approved a special permit for the project last week, but the permit is on hold pending council approval of the host community agreement.
Sarno said his administration followed all the proper procedures in reaching an agreement with Hampden Care Facility after conducting "due diligence" in recent months.
"Our goal here is to get those who are suffering the medical relief they need ASAP," Sarno said in comments last week. "I am hopeful our City Council renders a decision to help these individuals and families in need ASAP."
Councilors including council President Michael Fenton and committee Chairman
Adam Gomez said the mayor had months to deliberate, and they must do their own due diligence in accepting the terms of the host community agreement and proposing amendments.
Under the agreement, Hampden Care Facility agreed to "donate" annual payments to the city starting at a rate of 3 percent of its gross revenue in 2017, and to donate $50,000 directly to the police department. The donation will rise to 4 percent in 2018, and to 5 percent in 2019, repeating at 5 percent in 2020 and 2021, along with the $50,000 to the police department each year.
The donation will rise to 6 percent of gross revenue in each of the next three years, 2022 to 2024, before rising to 7 percent in 2024, and subsequent years, with continued donations of $50,000 to the police department.
There is also a provision for the company to create 15 new full time jobs within 18 months of the agreement and to annually give $2,500 each to the East Springfield Neighborhood Council and the Indian Orchard Citizens Council.
Some councilors raised concerns that once the agreement is approved, and the annual payments go to the city's general fund, the council will have no say over how the funds would be spent, relying the mayor's budget discretion.
Some councilors also suggested that other donations to neighborhoods might be considered.
Some councilors have also raised concerns about a clause in the agreement that stipulates the city not issue letters of support or non-opposition to any other company for a marijuana plant for a period of 10 years. Some councilors questioned if that amounted to a monopoly for Hampden Care Facility.
City Solicitor Edward M. Pikua, in response, said the host community agreement "provides the mayor with the flexibility reopen" negotiations to revise or eliminate certain terms or conditions.
The council has already voted to stipulate that at least 33 percent of the employees hired must be Springfield residents and at least 33 percent of the employees must be minorities, and will consider other new conditions, councilors said.
Pikula said the council does have the power to propose amendments, but any conditions need the review and approval of the developer and mayor.
Separately, as part of its special permit application, the company has already committed to multiple around-the-clock security systems including numerous cameras, fences and security personnel for the medical marijuana dispensary.
Hampden Care Facility's proposal for a medical marijuana dispensary was chosen in February as the "most advantageous" of six proposals submitted to the city, followed by negotiations of the host community agreement.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: MA: City Council Mulls Conditions For Medical Marijuana Dispensary In E. Springfield
Author: Peter Goonan
Contact: Massachusetts Local News
Photo Credit: Peter Goonan
Website: Massachusetts Local News
