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MARCH 21, 2019
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ICE protesters Putting down ’Roots? have their day in court l
By Jason Starr Observer staff
Demonstrations last summer in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in Williston protested the agency’s policy of separating foreign parents from their children at the U.S. border. But the protesters were not permitted to discuss the policy in court Tuesday in defending themselves against disorderly conduct charges. The majority of the 11 defendants cited by Williston Police last July 28 for blocking Har vest Lane settled their cases with no contest pleas and a penalty of public service hours. Mike McCleese, 60, of Worcester, Vt., and Connie Lesold, 81, of Plainfield, Vt., chose to take their cases to trial. They had hoped to mount a “necessity” defense and argue they had a moral obligation to break the law to draw attention to the family separation policy. They had planned to introduce evidence at trial about
the consequences of the policy. But in a pre-trial decision, Judge Martin Maley ruled that evidence about the policy would be inadmissible and that the defendants would not be permitted to try and convince a jury that their actions were morally necessary. “It was necessary and, in fact, effective,” said Vermont Peace and Justice Center Executive Director Rachel Siegel, a protester who pleaded no contest after learning of the court-imposed limitations. “Trump did change the policy.” The case was confined simply to the question of whether protesters recklessly caused public inconvenience by sitting in the middle of Harvest Lane on a Saturday morning. In front of a jury Tuesday in Burlington, McCleese took the stand to defend himself against the charge. He had decided to risk being held in contempt of court and speak to the reason for the protest. Under see COURT page 16
Observer photo by Jason Starr
Connie Lesold, left, and Mike McCleese discuss their disorderly conduct cases Tuesday before their trial in Chittenden County Court in Burlington.
MARIJUANA IN WILLISTON l
Observer photo by Jason Starr
Grassroots Vermont has been operating its financial office out of the building at 4560 Williston Road for about a year. Later this year, the Brandon company hopes to open a medical marijuana dispensary there.
Cannabis company seeks Williston Road dispensary By Jason Starr Observer staff
For the second time in four years, Williston planners and state regulators are weighing a request from a medical marijuana dispensary in Rutland County to open a store in Williston. This time though, things are different. When Grassroots Vermont first submitted an application to locate on Williston Road near the South Burlington line in 2015, the dispensary was looking to move its operation from Brandon. The Williston Development Review Board approved the application, but the Vermont Department of Public Safety denied it. There were four dispensaries in Vermont at the time, and the state was looking to maintain a balanced geographic mix, recalled Lindsey Wells, Vermont’s Marijuana Program administrator. “We did not want to leave Rutland County without a dispensary,” she said. State law changed in 2017 to allow each dispensary a satellite location in a different community. So far, dispensaries in Brattleboro and Burlington have taken advantage, opening locations in Middlebury and South Burlington, respectively. This time around, Grassroots Vermont’s Williston
store is planned as a satellite location, and Grassroots will maintain its Rutland County presence. The dispensary is also under new management. General Manager Chris Walsh started last June and manages day-to-day operations. Former manager Alex Ford remains involved in ownership and as executive director in the company’s non-profit structure. Grassroots is in the process of transitioning into a for-profit business and plans to enter the retail market if and when the Legislature legalizes sales to all adults. A bill that would do so (S.54) passed the Senate in February. “No one is making any money in the marijuana dispensary world,” Walsh said. “Everyone is holding on for dear life waiting for adult recreational.” Under current Williston zoning regulations, Grassroots would not be able to convert a dispensary at its proposed location (4560 Williston Road) into a retail marijuana store. While the industrial zoning district the building lies in expressly permits medical marijuana dispensaries, it prohibits most retail uses. “If we have to, we’ll find another location,” Walsh said. see ROOTS page 2
Saturday, March 30, 2019 Samplings of 200+ Wines • Food Samples • Live Music & DJ Rose Garden by Gardener’s Supply...and more!
1-4:30 p.m. & 6-9:30 p.m. The Essex Resort, Essex, VT
WinterWineFest.com