🔨 9!... 9 new pot licenses! Ah ah ah!

Deciding Which Flags be Flown Over the Memorial Building | Goodbye Wegman’s; Welcome back Barnes & Noble | Seniors Recognized | What’s Happening Around the ‘ham | The Civic Week Ahead

Jun 06, 2023

Happy First Week in June, Framingham! Congratulations to the Classes of 2023 from Framingham High School and Keefe Regional Technical School!

Both schools held their graduations this past week. Due to Friday’s soggy weather, FHS was rescheduled to Sunday. The rain did not stop this resilient class! Wishing you all much success in all you pursue. Your future is very bright.

Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com

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Today’s issue is brought to you by the number 9 and Sesame Street references. Read the subject line in Count von Count’s voice.

Council to Vote on Expanding Number of Marijuana Licenses

After months of back and forth, the Council will vote at Tuesday’s meeting whether or not to expand the number of marijuana licenses from 8 to 9.

Why does Framingham want to expand the number of licenses? Pot licenses have been a hot topic for over a year. And like a hot potato, the topic gets tossed around from committee to committee. Right now Framingham has one available license and “two good applicants”, according to COO Michael Tusino, who is also the chair of the Marijuana Advisory Team (MAT).

It was assumed one of the applicants was a “social equity” company. MAT advanced their application to the Mayor. Upon realizing the assumption was a misunderstanding, the MAT went back to square one with the two applicants.
- According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission: “Social Equity Program (SEP) is a free, statewide technical assistance and training program that creates sustainable pathways into the cannabis industry for individuals most impacted by the War on Drugs, including disproportionate arrest and incarceration as the result of marijuana prohibition.”
“It is tough for us to make a decision…We’re stuck right now with two good applicants and one license to give out.,” said Tusino at the May 2 Council meeting.
The Administration is requesting one more license.
Framingham has closed its application process. No one else can apply for a license at this time.

The history of licenses:

November 2018: The Council approved six adult-use marijuana retail licenses, and the ordinance was signed by Mayor Spicer. Six is 20% of alcoholic beverage licenses issued by Framingham, which is how the number of pot licenses was initially calculated.
April 5, 2022: Sisitsky Administration comes to the Council requesting additional licenses to avoid legal issues with a medical retailer who wants an adult-use license. According to state law, medical dispensaries are automatically eligible for an adult-use license. One of the medical dispensaries in the city wanted an adult license, but all were issued by the Spicer Administration. The Council voted to increase the number of licenses from 6 to 8.
August 30, 2022: Council creates the Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee to discuss expansion of licenses and the zoning area where dispensaries can be located in the city. In May 2023, the group voted to study expansion of the zoning district and number of licenses.
May 25, 2023: Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee votes to increase the number of licenses to 8. Moves to the Council for vote.

Pot shop announces closure: Trulieve, a Florida-based cannabis company, announced it is closing its Framingham store on June 30. The store is located at the site of the old Border’s Bookshop, next to Ken’s Steakhouse. According to the Worcester Business Journal, “It will fully withdraw from the Massachusetts market by the end of 2023 in what it is calling a proactive step to preserve cash and improve its financial performance.”

What next? With the closure of Trulieve, one adult-use license is back on the docket. Will the Council vote to approve expanding licenses tonight? If not, will the Sisitsky Administration reopen applications? Will the zoning district along a segment of Route 9 change? And lastly, is the marijuana market readjusting? Stay tuned!

The Memorial Building with the USA, POW and Pride flags flying at Memorial Plaza. (Photo: MK Feeney)

A proposed ordinance would limit what flags can fly at public buildings, protecting Framingham from being forced to fly flags that may conflict with policy.

Why the policy? Submitted by District 8 Councilor John Stefanini, the ordinance is in reaction to a Supreme Court case where the Court ruled unanimously that the City of Boston violated the Constitution when it rejected an application in 2017 to fly a Christian flag in front of their City Hall. Boston had consistently approved nearly 200 applications for flag flying before rejecting the Christian flag. According to the Court’s ruling, Boston’s flag program allowed other private groups to fly flags and was not speech by the city. Boston could not refuse permission to fly a particular flag because of the views it expressed.

The ordinance would limit the flags that could fly in Framingham to the following:

the United States flag
the Massachusetts state flag
the City of Framingham flag
the Prisoner of War (POW) flag
flags of other recognized nations

What about other flags? Any flags that would be flown outside of the listed flags would need to be approved by the Council through a proclamation, and be in conjunction with an event or ceremony within the policies of the community.

Next steps: The ordinance passed the Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee on May 25, and is on the Council’s agenda for a first reading tonight.

Goodbye Wegman’s; Welcome back Barnes & Noble

News from Natick that affects Framingham: Wegman’s at the Natick Mall is closing.

The word from Wegman’s: “Making these decisions is never easy. However, we do it for the long-term benefit of our people, our customers, and our communities,” said Brien MacKendrick, human resources director, Wegmans New England division. “Unfortunately, with this non-traditional location we are unable to attract enough customers for our business model to work.”

Their first in a mall: Wegman’s opened in 2018. It was their first multi-level store within a major mall. According to their release, the store will close later this summer, with an exact date to be determined. I’ll miss that shopping carriage escalator.

But now for the good news for us book lovers: Barnes & Nobles made their move and will reopen in Sherwood Plaza on Wednesday, June 14. Their new location is where PetCo once occupied, next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Seniors Recognized

The Council on Aging held its third annual Framingham Senior Heroes Awards.

This year’s awardees are:

Peggy Holland: A longtime volunteer for Call2Talk, the suicide and crisis hotline, and Partakers College Behind Bars program at MCI-Framingham. Holland has volunteered as a tutor with FPL’s Literacy Unlimited program helping individuals learn English. She has cooked and delivered meals with Family Promise MetroWest, assisted survivors of domestic violence through the REACH program, and volunteered with the United Way of Tri-County.
Margaret Kelley: A retired school teacher, Meg served as a volunteer at St. Bridget’s Parish as a co-director of the food pantry and on the School Advisory Board. She also volunteers with the Framingham History Center, often as a docent for school tours, and wrote the book “The ABCs of Framingham History.” Meg is a proud member of the Framingham Garden Club, and chaired their “Music in Bloom” fundraiser for their scholarship program.
William Rabkin: If you go to any event and see a cameraman from Access Framingham TV, chances are it is Bill Rabkin. Bill joined AFTC in 2009. Since then he has created video programs from community events at the Framingham History Center, the Callahan Center and the Framingham Library, and everything in between.
Norma Shulman: Shulman was honored for her activism and political involvement, as a 27 year town meeting member, Democratic State Committee member, delegate to conventions, co-chair of the MA Democratic Women’s Outreach Committee and working on various federal, state and local campaigns.

Who is eligible for the Senior Heroes Awards?

Framingham residents, 60 and older
Their efforts reflect their value for diversity and show significant contributions to inclusivity in Framingham, in one of the following categories:
- Culture/Arts - Performing arts, painting, poetry, playwriting, music, dance, etc. that celebrate diversity and inclusivity.
- Social Development - Programs that improve or promote positive interactions among people from different ethnic groups, abilities, gender identities, ages; such as sports, after school programs, special events or other activities.
- Health or Health Care – Efforts that focus on the populations whose access has been limited, due to race, gender, gender identity, language, disability, immigration status, etc.
- Public Service - Contributed in this way with their volunteer service on any of the boards, councils or committees in the City or Town Meeting or former elected officials.

Congratulations!

What’s Happening Around the ‘ham

Flag Day Parade:

The annual Flag Day celebration takes place with a parade at 10am on Sunday, June 11 at Cushing Park. The parade begins at the Chapel and goes around the park. At 11:10am is a ceremony led by Framingham Police Lt. Robert Downing, master of ceremonies.

The Framingham Elks will be participating in the parade and carrying a giant flag along the route. Also participating will be the Framingham Scout troops, Framingham High athletics teams, Framingham Baseball, elected leaders, and others.

Featured ceremony speakers include Judge Michael L. Fabbri and Keefe Technical High School student Matt Kelly. Chaplain Robert Anspach will do the invocation and Massport Fire Lt. Luis Alvarez of Framingham will do the benediction.

Mackenzie Lee Clements will perform the National Anthem at the ceremony. Framingham Boy Scouts and Framingham Girl Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. PFC Gabriel N. Paixao and Madison A. Anderson will raise the flag at the ceremony.

I’ll be back on the Government Channel providing commentary on the festivities and interviewing people at the parade. This year I am joined by State Representative Priscila Sousa. Come out and join in on the fun!

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day:

Saturday, June 10 from 9am to 1pm at the DPW Operations Center located at 100 Western Avenue. Please note that proof of residency will be required to attend the event. Check out the graphic below for what is acceptable and what is not.

Electronics Recycling & Clothing Donation Day:

Wednesday, June 14. Bring any electronic device with a power cord or button to the Recycling Drop-Off Center on Mount Wayte Avenue from noon to 8 p.m. The best part? It's FREE for all Framingham residents with a Recycling Center permit. Don't have a permit? No problem! Donate non-perishable food items, books, or gently used clothing instead.

Repair Cafe:

Saturday, June 10 from 11am-2pm in Scott Hall at First Parish. Sponsored by Transition Framingham and the Rotary Club. Bring your items that need repair, and knowledgeable volunteers will help you try to fix them for free.

The volunteers can work on items such as clean mendable clothing, knitted and crocheted items, lamps, small appliances, electronic devices that need button batteries, computers and other electronics, bikes, toys, jewelry, wheelchairs, and sewing machines. They can also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools. You only pay for needed parts. If you know what parts are needed, please get them ahead of time and bring them to the Repair Café to save time.

All are welcome and encouraged to participate. Free event, with suggested donation of $5-10 per repair.

The Civic Week Ahead

Tuesday, June 6
- 6:00PM: Council Appointments Subcommittee Agenda
- 7:00 PM: Council Agenda
Wednesday, June 7
- 7:00PM: School Committee Agenda
- 7:00PM: Conservation Commission Agenda
Thursday, June 8
- 4:30PM: Board of Library Trustees Advocacy Subcommittee Agenda
- 7:00PM: Human Relations Commission Agenda
- 8:00PM: Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Committee Agenda

Thanks!

Thanks for reading The Ham’er today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who lives in Framingham. Questions? What something shared? Send them my way.

Have a great week!

-Mary Kate