A Happy New Year to all our readers! ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #67
Peabody, MA POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vol. 2, No. 52
-FREE-
www.advocatenews.net
Info@advocatenews.net
978-777-6397
Friday, December 29, 2017
2017: Peabody’s Tanners top Tornadoes
Year in Review By Christopher Roberson
M
edical marijuana raised “more questions than answers” in 2017 Although the sale of medical marijuana was ultimately approved, the City Council spent much of 2017 trying to figure out how to best handle having such establishments in the city. “There are more questions than answers,” said Councillor-at-Large Anne Manning-Martin during the council’s Feb. 16 meeting, adding that Peabody was not the only community that was in a quandary. Therefore, the council voted unanimously to adopt a yearlong moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries. On March 23, councillors voted unanimously to approve the draft of an ordinance banning the public consumption of marijuana that was presented by Police Chief Thomas Griffin. “The new ordinance, which would take effect in the coming weeks, would allow officers to hand out fines up to $100 in a manner that resembles a parking ticket,” he said. Griffin also said that the fines collected would benefit the Healthy Peabody Collaborative. Going into the May 25 meeting, it was clear that the council needed to take action on the zoning regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. During the meeting, councillors agreed to withdraw their initial plan of having a medical marijuana zone at 100 Corporate Place. The council’s action was in response to concerns from Lynnfield residents living on Green Street, which straddles the Peabody/Lynnfield line. Residents said Green Street is the only way to access Corporate Place. “The original proposed zone would have dramatically and adversely affected the lives and homes of many decent people,” said Green Street resident Danielle Berdahn. “Living with the uncertainty of people
potentially getting high and driving down our streets impaired, while our children play, would have been agonizing for the residents of this area.” Mayor Edward Bettencourt said it was never his plan to create friction with Lynnfield’s residents. “My intention was to create a zone that limited the places where it could go in our city. I did not want it near neighborhoods; I did not want it near schools or parks,” he said. “The last thing I wanted to do was create something that affected our neighbors, the town of Lynnfield.” City officials then began the process of approving a new four-parcel zone in the area of Brothers Kouzina, 7-Eleven and Bertucci’s. The council continued to tread during its Sept. 14 meeting. “We don’t want to be in court, we want to protect ourselves,” said City Council President Joel Saslaw. He also said he expected that all approved companies would be active and positive contributors to the city. “These entities are going to put their best foot forward,” he said. But the real issue had been about determining when a letter of non-opposition would be warranted. “That’s the elephant in the room,” said Saslaw. “There is no guide.” Therefore, he suggested a list of criteria for the council to use when it comes time to start making those kinds of decisions. Saslaw recommended inquiring about a company’s board of directors, its level of security and its years of industry experience and location. “Those are the things that I thought about,” he said. Saslaw also said the council would review a host agreement before sending it to Bettencourt for his signature. Councillor-at-Large David Gravel suggested implementing additional zoning restrictions for medical marijuana companies. “We should go back into the Zoning Ordi-
2017 | SEE PAGE 2
Catherine Manning soars above the Malden defenders for two during the Tanners’ 58-44 away-game win over the Golden Tornadoes last week. Manning was instrumental to the Pioneers success, netting 15 pints and hauling down 16 rebounds. See story inside on page 6. (Advocate photo by Mike Kearney)
City’s poverty rate up 2.5 percent since 2012 By Christopher Roberson
minimum wage is $11 per hour.” MacNeil could not say if the 2.5-percent etween 2012 and 2016, the percent- change is typical for Peabody as there has age of Peabody residents living in pov- not been a “significant change” in the numerty increased from 5.6 percent to 8.1 per- ber of families seeking assistance from cent. Laura MacNeil, executive director of NSCAP. Although there are no parts of the city the North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP), said the lingering effect of that are particularly prone to poverty, MacNeil said, many residents living under such the 2008 recession is one possible cause. “A long-term effect of that recession was conditions are dependent on public transmillions of homeowners lost their homes to portation, and therefore, live near the bus foreclosure,” she said. “Those families flood- lines or places that are within walking dised the rental market.” As a result, MacNeil tance. Going forward, MacNeil was unable to say said, rental rates have soared, but the affordable housing stock has not kept pace when the 8.1 percent may come down. “I wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me with the demand. “We see it with the families who come to what we as a nation would have to do toNSCAP for help,” she said. “They struggle to gether to reduce or eliminate poverty,” she make the rent, pay their bills and put food said. “I’d love to be out of a job because on the table. Unstable housing creates a cas- there was no more poverty in this country.” MacNeil said NSCAP has continued to do cade of instability, which can lead to homeits part. “NSCAP is a constant for the vullessness.” In addition, MacNeil said that although nerable people of Peabody,” she said. “Our the cost of living continues to rise, residents’ Board of Directors has made adult educatake home pay has remained the same. “It is tion and training, as well as housing, prioriimpossible to support a family working at ties in our work. We have increased the numa minimum wage job,” she said. “The very ber of homeless families that we shelter, and bare minimum for a single parent to raise a we now help house homeless individuals, family would be over $20 per hour, but the which is a relatively new program for us.”
B