Shrewsbury approves agreement with marijuana delivery operator

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

SHREWSBURY - A marijuana delivery operator is now one step closer to opening in Shrewsbury following a Board of Selectmen vote, Sept. 14, to approve a host community agreement.

The agreement passed by a 3-1 margin, with Selectman Maurice DePalo voting against it. Vice Chair John Lebeaux was not present.

DePalo notes commitment to permit two dispensaries in Shrewsbury

Many Rivers LLC first appeared before the Shrewsbury selectmen during their Aug. 10 meeting.

At that time, a Many Rivers representative said they were interested in opening at a site at 299 Hartford Turnpike. Many Rivers would purchase products from licensed marijuana establishments, warehouse the products, accept orders online and deliver orders.

“I’m not comfortable with it,” DePalo said Sept. 14. “I’m not sure this is something that I want to see the town do. I don’t think it would make a difference who it was.”

He later explained that he felt approval of this agreement would violate the spirit of communications to town residents following marijuana’s legalization in Massachusetts in 2016. Shrewsbury would only be able to permit two dispensaries, DePalo noted.

“I know this is something a little different; it’s home delivery, but it’s still another dispensary in a sense,” DePalo said.

He said he understood the ben-

Forrest Memorial Road Race to take place Sept. 26

MARLBOROUGH - The 37th annual Forrest Memorial Road Race will start and finish at the Wayside Athletic Club in Marlborough on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Held in memory of longtime community leader Jim Forrest, the event has options for a 5k run or walk and a 1.7-mile walk or wheel. There will be a post-race barbecue with music and awards.

The event is hosted by Thrive Support & Advocacy, which works to empower youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the region.

Proceeds benefit recreational experiences and sports teams participating in the Special Olympics.

Pre-event registration is $25 and includes a race T-shirt. Sameday registration is $30. For more information on how to sponsor, donate or register for the race, visit https://www.icanthrive.org/event/ forrest-memorial/.

efits of Many Rivers.

“But, I thought we were pretty clear we’d only have two,” DePalo said.

Delivery discussions part of larger debate over marijuana in Shrewsbury

The debate on recreational marijuana has continued in Shrewsbury over several years since the town votes against the state-wide, 2016 ballot question that ultimately legalized the product in Massachusetts.

In 2018, Shrewsbury considered joining a growing list of communities that had already banned recreational dispensaries within their town or city lines. But voters ultimately rejected that ban at Town Meeting.

More recently, on Sept. 14, Selectman Beth Casavant said that, when the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) began discussing delivery licenses, the Board of Selectmen sent a letter saying it felt like the rules were changing.

“It seemed like we did all that work,” Casavant said. “We went through this whole exercise as a town and as a Town Meeting. We made a decision, and then the CCC sort of changed the rules on us without allowing us any real recourse.”

‘Delivery is everywhere’

Though she raised concerns about the CCC’s process, Casavant said she was comfortable with the agreement with Many Rivers, adding that it was consistent with Shrewsbury’s other host commu- nity agreements.

“I think that delivery is everywhere, and if it isn’t here in Shrewsbury, these guys are going to pack up and head to the next town that’s geographically convenient and set up there,” Casavant said.

Town Manager Kevin Mizikar said the agreement provides Shrewsbury with the full three-per- cent host community fee allowed on these types of agreements. He said the agreement also includes safety provisions to ensure that Many Rivers expeditiously moved through the Cannabis Control Commission process.

Shrewsbury already has two retail recreational marijuana establishments in town.

OSHA to ramp up enforcement measures following deaths

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor

REGION - Federal regulators took action to improve worker safety in tree and landscaping operations, last week, just a matter of days after a man was fatally electrocuted while working near power lines in Northborough.

A statement from the US Department of Labor announced on Sept. 14 that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Boston office had rolled out new enforcement and outreach efforts through a new “regional emphasis program.”

“The number of fatalities, injuries and uncontrolled hazards in

28 years in Business!

tape while investigating the death of a landscape contractor in Northborough.

the tree and landscaping industries in New England is alarming and unacceptable,” said OSHA Acting Regional Administrator Jeffrey Erskine in a press release.

“These incidents are preventable with proper training and effective safety procedures.”

The statement did not directly address the Northborough incident, in which Joel Andrew Boulay Jr., 25, was killed after he came in contact with a high powered line. Instead, it more broadly noted at least 31 worker deaths in New England since 2016. The statement said OSHA inspectors had identified a number of injuries and deaths caused by everything from falls, to electrocution.

This new emphasis program will begin with outreach to employees, workers and stakeholders before beginning enforcement in November.