THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, June 22, 2018

Page 1

Subscribe to The Advocate See page 18

Vol. 20, No. 25

-FREE-

www.advocatenews.net

Published Every Friday

617-387-2200

Friday, June 22, 2018

Planning Board recommends restrictions Malden unites to celebrate Flag Day on marijuana zoning By Barbara Taormina fter a long and muddled public hearing on zoning regulations for marijuana establishments, the Planning Board voted to recommend a set of buffer zones that may have disappointed a lot of residents. Planning Board members voted, 7-2, to recommend that any marijuana establishment, which includes retail shops, cultivators, marijuana product manufacturers and testing labs, must be located 500 feet from any schools, 250 feet from parks and playgrounds, 150 feet from residences and 75 feet from substance abuse treatment centers, religious facilities and daycare centers. The vote came after a joint public hearing of the Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board on zoning regulations that will be the foundation of

A

the city’s marijuana ordinance. Joint public hearings held by the Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board are often difficult to follow because of the technical jargon and the lack of any handouts, maps or PowerPoint presentations that allow the audience to see specifically what is being reviewed and debated. This week’s hearing was more challenging than usual thanks to the volume on the PA system that seemed like it was dialed down by half. Although it was hard to hear many of the comments being made and the questions being asked, it does seem like the Planning Board wrapped up the hearing with outstanding questions about the proposed marijuana overlay district; the ban on uses, such as

MARIJUANA | SEE PAGE 8

Be Safe Not Sorry!

Scouts from Malden Troop 603, Zachary Brennan, ASM Dennis Mauriello, Liam Burne, Mason Burne, Stephen Topian, Gabriel Matnog, Gerard Mauriello, and SM Matt Burne, are shown at the City of Malden’s Flag Retirement Ceremony, held at Holy Cross Cemetery on June 14. See more photo highlights on page 11. (Advocate photo by Al Terminiello)

By Barbara Taormina alden celebrated Flag Day at Bell Rock Memorial Park last week with tradi-

M

IRU D &RQWDFW XV DWLRQ J OL E 1R 2

tĂŜƚ ƚŽ ĹŹĹśĹ˝Ç ĆšĹšÄž ǀĂůƾĞ ŽĨ LJŽƾĆŒ ĹšŽƾĆ?Äž Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŽĚĂLJ͛Ć? ĆŒÄžÄ‚ĹŻ ÄžĆ?ƚĂƚĞ ĹľÄ‚ĆŒĹŹÄžĆšÍ?

)5(( 0DUNHW $QDO\VLV 2I <RXU +RPH

Ä‚ĹŻĹŻ hĹśĹ?ƚĞĚ ĆŒŽŏÄžĆŒĆ? Ä‚Ćš ϲϭϳͲϰϲϭͲϰώϯϴ

tee Member Mike Drummey coordinated the event meant to commemorate the resolu-

FLAG DAY | SEE PAGE 14

City Council invites the public to speak up

EVERETT TAXI P MALDEN TRANS

(781) 322-5050 (617) 389-8100 (781) 324-5050 ~Family owned locally for 40 years~

tional pomp, pageantry and the city’s own special brand of local pride. Once again, Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe and Ward 1 School Commit-

By Barbara Taormina

ublic comment, a 30-minute segment at the start of City Council meetings when the public can share their opinions and ideas about city business, has arrived. Councillors voted unanimously this week to update the City Council rule book, and as part of that overhaul they added public comment to the council’s agenda items. “(This) was a great win for Malden,� said Council President Debbie DeMaria. “I, and other councillors, look forward to another opportunity to hear from our constituents.� Public comment is not exactly a half hour of political open mic. The number of speakers will be capped at 15 for each meeting, and speakers, who must sign in, are limited to two minutes at the podium. Also, those who do wish to speak, must stick to topics on the council’s meeting’s agenda. DeMaria first proposed adopting a public comment segment last year. Although the Ordinance Committee recommended that the council approve a six-month trial

period of public comment, the proposal was defeated with a 5-5 tie vote last September. Some councillors who voted against public comment felt it was more of a town meeting–style measure that didn’t fit with Malden’s representative form of municipal government. Other councillors questioned if it was necessary since residents can always ask councillors to sponsor them as speakers at council meetings. And other councillors worried that public comment would chip away at the

limited time the council has to review and debate issues and municipal matters.

COUNCIL | SEE PAGE 6 Our 80th Year

DRIVER EDUCATION Next Classes

1 Week Day Classes July 9 & 23

$2.39 GALLON *$//21

:H DFFHSW 0DVWHU&DUG 9LVD 'LVFRYHU

3ULFH 6XEMHFW WR &KDQJH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH

*DO 0LQ +U 6HUYLFH

CALL - ENROLL

or Register Online 617-387-9121

HENRYSAUTOSCHOOL.COM

E EVERETT A AUTO SCHOOL “Successful Key To Driving� Since 1938 Gift Certificates Available

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.