Two pots, two buildings and nothing panning out

On the pot issue.  Let me state emphatically, for the record, I again have absolutely no horse in this race, no dog in this show, no "personal" stake in the outcome.

As an individual, I fully support the outcome of the statewide ballot initiative. I will also support the right of any, and I do mean any, entity which wishes to come to Fairhaven. In saying that, I do not intend to boldly go were to man, or using the PC corrected version, person has gone before.

I get the fact that these entities have tough decisions to make relative to how to meet state imposed deadlines. but those deadlines do not mean they must apply to the town for the town to roll the dice.

I see nothing wrong with our elected leaders accepting a position that they will in fact support any entity which can obtain a DPH final stamp of approval and a special permit from the Town Planning Board and issuing a letter of support on those lines

HOWEVER, the elected leaders who will issue the such a letter of support will not be the leaders elected to issue a special permit, and no letter of recommendation, in the opinion of this blogger, should unconditionally encompass a specific site at any point until after a special permit is obtained.

The words "subject to" most definitely should be liberally used.

These proposals require due diligence.  These proposals require dotted i's and crossed t's.  These proposals require qualified support.  

Acceptance, support, and on the other side of the coin opposition should not be based on what has happened in Colorado or Rhode Island or any other state. The criteria should be what is to happen in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts based on promulgated regulations enacted under statutory law, subject to applicable local code.

Let me also suggest to all of you that the true economic engine that this new industry will truly generate is going to exist if and when the state in its infinite wisdom figures out how to tax the proceeds, and if and when the state decides to allow the town affected to slap the excise tax on the sales for which the proposed special legislation was sought (where that one is in the food chain who knows, but it ain't getting a third reading any time soon).

Will it create jobs? Sure.  Just how many Fairhaven residents will in fact get them remains to be seen. will it fill a vacant store front. Sure. 

Should the Town factor in the potential for the new industry that is going to pop up after the 2016 ballot. Absolutely.

If it were solely my money, solely my "personal" stake, would I be jumping head first into the pool, in truth most probably.  

If I were an abutter, I would have concerns, but I would also look close to statistics. I would listen to the "plan", I would be a bit more cautious, stay involved in the permitting process, but would not let my knee dictate my reaction.

If I were the one of the selectmen, I might be wonder why my board hasn't been more involved with the discussions that apparently have taken place with department heads throughout the town. But hey, outside of "We the People" they are usually the last to know anyway, or so it seems.

Due diligence. Do it.  If your unconditional support is required, than best be prepared to be able to explain why you will give it.  If you can qualify it with the right "subject to's" I don't have a problem with that, and neither quite frankly should any one else.  

It is a legal business, subject to obtaining a special permit.  If it meets the special permit requirements, it should be entitled to a special permit. you not only conveniently can pass the buck on this one, but are legally required to do it.  

Truth be told, all the stuff about the need, availability etc. are in fact irrelevant at this point.  

Everything should at this point in time be measured strictly to the benefit to the Town of Fairhaven, its residences, their needs and their convenience; and, absolutely applying the dirty concept of money to this matter, what are the financial benefits weighed against potential impact.

The primary purpose, the purpose that should take priority in all matters is the Town and all of the Town residents. Not greater New Bedford, not Bristol County, not the fact if there wasn't a Route 240 exit off of Route 195 that emptied out in close proximity to the sites, we wouldn't be discussing this at all.

Fairhaven exists and operates for its people. Those who need this medicinal plant are   not going to suffer any more if the dispensary is located in New Bedford, or a surrounding town or two over.  Indeed that seems to be the line from the big city to its own residents relative to the dispensary concept from those in opposition to a dispensary in the big city.

Save the humanitarian argument and obligation on this one. You would have more of a chance convincing me to locate a refugee camp in town on those grounds. the "if not here, than where argument" has been too often played and quite frankly isn't a reason on this matter.  Personally it has been used so often and for so long it this town it is thread bare.

This is now, point blank, a business decision relative to support. A business decision that should and must be qualified based on obtaining necessary approvals.  If you plan on climbing aboard the merry-go-round to grab the brass ring, make sure you get a steady aim on the target.

Moving on ....

Another meeting and seemingly another emerging preference to dump two school buildings.  The old fashioned way, through a Realtor. 

Using what is also getting a bit thread bare, just because you have a right to do something, doesn't mean you have a right to do it.

The one seeming consensus last night was the need to get an appraisal.  The one continuing Catch 22 escaping nearly everyone is what needs to be done before you get an appraisal, unless you want to pay for essentially three different appraisal.  

Easy appraisal.  Market the properties for sale, as is, for any existing legal use.

Simple enough right.

The waste of time effort an money on this, points which have been raised over and over again, is just what the heck are we selling and under just what restrictions?

Draw the line for the Rogers building to the legal line of Union Street, maybe you get a plug nickel for the property or a $100,000 if sold as is that way, with no restrictions.  Now if you are a Realtor, anticipating the type of effort and advertising you will have to put into dumping the property, are you going to work on a say 5% commission?

If you are hired to sell, with the understanding that say the property is going to get what would essentially be another house lot, but subject to Town Meeting approving the crave out of the remaining land, you going to risk that.  Maybe, maybe not. More likely though if no restrictions and if you feel you can work a quick sale.

If there is anything other than an "as is" sale however, to do an adequate appraisal one would need to know what the restrictions will be.

Simple solution #2, just adopt everything the committee wants relative to use, restoration and maintenance. Make sure to add the safe guards in the consultant's report. the sticky wicket on that would of course be subject to town meeting approval.  The second sticky wicket is once you establish the contract with the Realtor and if the Realtor finds a buyer, able willing and ready subject to Town Meeting, so much for your subject evaluation process, at least in my opinion.

And you know what, at this point I really don't care anymore.  There seems to be a determination on the part of some to tailor the whole process to a preferred goal.  Town Meeting in the end will decide what that goal should be. Fine and dandy.  

I just add this little tidbit. It is one thing to call someone up, tell them what you want and how you want it and ask them how much.  If you are going to do that, you best make at least three telephone calls and give three people the same exact information.

Absolutely follow the law. Absolutely follow your legal advice. But when the law and the advice provide alternate routes, use some common sense.  If you weren't listening to what the Exec Sec was trying to say last night, rewind the tape.  

It is baffling that there are any workhorses left it this town.  We put the cart in front of them so often, you think we would have killed off the stock by now.

Enough for today.

Be safe.