I attended this evening's 11/7/18 License Commission meeting to be able to report the discussion on BYOB regulations after the public hearing was held a few weeks ago. I'll report random views and statements from Commissioners here.
📒Daniel Sarefield: "We've received some comments from the public, I wouldn't call them statistically significant, since only 20 people came...but they were a representative sample of certain individuals..."
"Many of the people that spoke were concerned about BYOB businesses that had a common victaullers license, that's an issue that is certainly up for discussion. In addition to that, the timeframe we had specified (5-11pm) and the amount of alcohol (64oz) and the types of alcohol (wine & beer only) were issues that were indicated to us in various communications" "The fee also is something we needs to pare down"
They are also waiting on the City Solicitor for the suggestion on the required liquor liability.
📒 Donna Pawlak: She started by noting that she thinks most people thought the license fee was a fundraising measure...and she believes is not the case. She noted that while most people were supportive of the BYOB--that 2 people, that owned licensed pouring establishments, that refused to speak publicly because they were planning to speak against---but were 'overwhelmed with everything that was taking place", and wished to remain anonymous with Pawlak., spoke about how unfair it was that they had to pay for liability "it's a huge cost to them, and a huge cost to make sure their staff is TIPS certified...and they thought it was unfair that BYOB establishments didn't have to do any of that." She then notes that the police report showing 2 incidents in 10 years at 6 locations did not include 'the motorcycle place on Ashby state rd' or 'Saima park', "so i would agree with the chief that we need to have a list of places that are doing it, because we aren't even tracking those places...so if someone leaves Saima park...so those places should be added to the city of fitchburg statistics.." she then notes a former city employee telling her they do BYOB at Cleghorn House of Pizza....but she's not certain of that. So if someone leaves there...no one is thinking to stop them..."
📒Daniel Sarefield: "At face value, the info the Capt was able to gather indicated that there had been TWO instances (in 10 years for 6 establishments) at a BYOB business...you can't say nothings ever happened anywhere--that's simply false. The fact that we are not collecting info, and we are not regulating this in some way, I think there is a cause for us to be concerned about it, it's our obligation to address this and i think there are things that were conveyed at the meeting that were totally legitimate, we can make accommodations based on what we heard that make it possible for some of those business to continue to practice BYOB as long as it is done so in a legal manner--I think if we do nothing we continute to have the same problem that we have--that we don't know where this is happening, the police don't know where this is happening, and so if there are problems its going to take us that much longer to figure out where and what they are and that is a danger...it is our obligation and we cannot ignore it."
🥂Daniel Sarefield: "I know that many of the folks who talked about the TIPS certification and how much it was going to cost them---frankly I'm not convinced by that-- the rest of these businesses that have to have certification, they pass that expense onto their employees---businesses don't pay for that, employees pay for that themselves, that's not a burden on them, if they need to be TIPS certified, they'll make their employees pay for that...and so the ONLY cost that is going to be involved here would be whatever amount would be necessary to process the info at the city clerks office and liability insurance which would protect them and the city if something went wrong"
--BYOB discussion to be continued to 1st meeting in January 2019.
Crocker Principal Adam Renda is now the new Principal at Reingold.
Crocker Principal Adam Renda is now the new Principal at Reingold. Vice-Principal Casey Beaulac is the new Principal at Crocker Elementary. Effective today.
For more information on the transition of Principals within Crocker Elementary School, Reingold and Memorial... I have reached out to now Vice-Principal Clark & have her permission to post her letter, and copying Principal Renda and Principal Beaulac's letters here for clarity.
📣Crocker Principal Adam Renda is now the new Principal at Reingold. 📣Vice-Principal Casey Beaulac is the new Principal at Crocker Elementary. 📣Reingold Principal Martha Clark has moved into a new position as a Vice Principal at Memorial Middle School. Effective today.
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Reingold School PTO Crocker Elementary School PTO Memorial Middle School
Twin City Memory Cafe with Fitchburg Dog Park & TheraPaws
Myself & Fiona the therapy dog with her humans Helen and Theresa visited the Twin City Memory Cafe at the Leominster Senior Ctr for a lunchtime meeting of the monthly support group. I spoke all about the Fitchburg Dog Park, everyone loved Fiona, and we spoke about Be Pawsitive's work in the community and the role that our Therapy Pets are playing in the community from Children at schools, to students at college, to seniors at assisted living centers and more.
The Twin City Memory Café Committee is a group of individuals dedicated to promoting social opportunities through community gatherings for individuals with dementia and their care partners.
Twin City memory cafe meets the 1st Wednesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Leominster Senior Center, 5 Pond St.
All those in attendance must be accompanied by a care partner.
This is a free program, but registration is required by calling Diane Reed at 774-272-2259.
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*pic by Ashley Green for S&E
Fitchburg Police Clothing Drive 2018
Fitchburg Police Clothing Drive: FPD will be collecting Men's or Women's apparel such as winter coats, fleece shirts, hats, gloves, winter boots, etc. to benefit those in need. We teamed up with ACTION Health Services and Girl Scout Troop # 30713 of Fitchburg.
We will all be accepting donations on November 17, 2018 (Saturday) from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. We will be at the Central Plaza parking lot located on Water Street.
Crocker Elementary School VOTES! 31st year!!
Crocker Elementary School VOTES! 31st year!! Love love love Crocker....so so so much!!
Results!
Another amazing year of the Fitchburg Crocker Elementary School's PEACE voting project! Congratulations to the winners of Crocker's 2018 Election: Charlie Baker for Governor, Rick Green for Congress Representative, Senator Dean A. Tran for Senate and Representative Stephan Hay for State Representative.
MassDOT Moving Together Conference
Took the trip into Boston Thursday for the MassDOT Moving Together Conference representing Fitchburg!
There are all kinds of programs, grants and opportunities form the State that Fitchburg can (and in some cases 'is') capitalizing on....I attended the discussions on the Statewide Pedestrian Plan and Municipal Guide for Walkability, Unlocking Economic Development through Transit-----the MassTrails Official launch discussion and on the NEW statewide Bicycle plan and Municipal resource guide.
Promoted Fitchburg a bunch...learned more about State Resources we can capitalize on...preparing more for my added new role on the Mass State Bike and Pedestrian Board
upcoming City Council Agenda petitionsL Retail Cannabis
In the upcoming City Council Agenda includes petitions to reduce Fitchburg's available permits for retail cannabis stores from 8 (40% of Alcohol stores) to 4 (20% of Alcohol stores) to a Legislative Affairs Committee meeting, date TBA
Halloween Trick or Treat in Fitchburg!
Thank you Stoneybrook Village Fitchburg for having the best trick or treating yet again ❤❤👻☠😈🎃
UMass Leominster Hospital Listening Session
Attended a 'listening session' at the UMass Leominster Hospital this morning to discuss changes with their facilities and issues brought up by residents. I'll note a few points discussed:
1. The new Emergency Room Expansion is expected to be complete sometime soon after the new year. They will have a separate ER area for those patients with 'mental health/drug concerns', and are increasing their available ER beds from 24 to 37. They estimate 8-10 beds a day are taken up by Mental health/drug related patients.
2. Credit Cards for Urgent Care: They are still working with the Carewell Urgent care, as an affiliate, to remove the restriction for a Credit card on File for care....but they have not been able to reach agreement yet.
The Leominster UMass Memorial Urgent Care Center does not have a Credit Card on File system, and thus will treat all patients at that facility. For non-acute concerns that you would feel comfortable going to your Doctor for, but cannot wait for an appt---this is where Urgent Care may be able to assist you the quickest. To contrast, for non-acute issues, your wait time in the ER might be very long.
3. Fitchburg Burbank Campus: The future plans for this Campus for the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center sound very exciting for Fitchburg. We were told that they have received "the biggest donation they have ever received' and plan on expanding our Cancer Center into "The Dana-Farber of Central Massachusetts", when asked how many square feet of the existing facility they were using for the new cancer center---they said "most of it". That timeline is "a few years out"...but are currently renovating a portion of the old Bullock Campus they recently tore down into a new "Community Room" to offer more services and events for the community. A press release will be forth coming.
4. If residents have any concerns or questions about our hospital structure, services, plans or anything else... they offered an open door for more questions or a tour or whatever...so I'd be happy to note concerns and try to reach out to the Hospital for answers.
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I was joined this morning by fellow Fitchburg councilors Beauchemin and Donnelly, Leominster Councilor Challifoux-Zephir, Fitchburg State Rep Hay, & Leominster State Rep Higgins, Lunenburg Fire Chief and Leominster Police Chief among other hospital execs and officials. So can reach out to any of them with questions as well
Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster Fundraiser
My favorite girl and I went out to the 99 Restaurants after Mom's many meetings for a fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster ... and niki colored her entry to the Fitchburg Holiday Decorating Committee coloring contest 🏅🖍🎄🖌
New Record: 8 minute long Public Works Committee Meeting.
New Record: 8 minute long Public Works Committee Meeting.
Approved Engineering study for the crosswalk at the Elec Ave Entrance to Coggshall Park.
Poll: Should the City of Fitchburg raise the age to 21 for Tobacco & 'Nicotine Delivery Products'?
Should the City of Fitchburg raise the age to 21 for Tobacco & 'Nicotine Delivery Products'?
The BOH is currently accepting written comment until October 31, 2018 regarding raising the age to 21 for Nicotine Delivery Products and Tobacco purchases sales in the City of Fitchburg. Please submit comment to 166 Boulder Drive, Suite 108 or scurry@fitchburgma.gov.
Cannabis Retail Outreach Mtg- John Fitch Hwy
Cannabis Retail Outreach Mtg- John Fitch Hwy
The company looking to open a recreational pot shop at 143-145 Water St. is eyeing a second location in the city.
The second location proposed by Avon-based Green Era LLC is a currently vacant building at 371 John Fitch Highway.
Green Era Manager Jack Carney said the approximately 3,000 square-foot parcel was attractive for its proximity to a busy roadway and for being a ways away from schools and neighborhoods.
"There's a large population in this region, so we thought that it would be a popular location," he said.
Carney said Green Era's "original goal" was to open a second shop in Leominster, but discussions with the city stalled. Leominster adopted zoning that governs where cannabis companies can and cannot locate last summer.
So the company instead decided to pursue a second retail establishment in Fitchburg, he said. Green Era is also among a slate of companies vying for the chance to apply for a cannabis shop in Worcester.
Carney expects to sign a "host community agreement" for the Water Street dispensary with the city this week. He expects another such agreement related to the John Fitch Highway will be finalized a few weeks after that.
Green Era is tentatively calling its proposed Water Street location Colonial Cannabis, though Carney said the name may change. For that location Carney said he will seek a special permit at a Nov. 14 Planning Board meeting.
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_32239077/company-eyes-2nd-pot-shop-fitchburg
Howl-o-Ween 2nd Annual Costume contest and parade!
Costume pics from today's Howl-o-Ween 2nd Annual Costume contest and parade!
Verne E. Roy 5K 2018
Ran the Verne E. Roy 5K this morning to benefit the Sam Pawlak Community Playground at Coolidge Park. Cold and wet...but I beat my time for the Patriots Day 5k and I'm told I didn't come in last place 😁 River Styx Brewing gave us all a pour after the race so I had a Proteus VIII too 🍻
Monty Tech Vet Science Center Ribbon Cutting
Ribbon Cutting today for the new Monty Tech Vocational High School Vet Science Center! I toured it when it was under construction a few months back...and WOW does it look amazing today! They even have a horse in the classroom ;-) Amazing resource for our community and students at Monty Tech.
So great to have Governor Charlie Baker join us for the ceremony! as well as Congressman Jim McGovern, Senator Dean A. Tran and Representative Stephan Hay (with the ribbon cutting photo credit!).
Ribbon Cutting for Research Results
Started off the day with a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the Research Results, Inc. new Fitchburg Headquarters Building on South Street...also housing my fellow Councilor Anthony Zarrella, Councilor-at-Large and my fellow Longsjo Classic Board member John Zarrella!
---The building is all decked out, inside and out, in RED and GREY. It's pretty fabulous ...Fitchburg theme galore! I love it! Great views of Brandon Funeral Home too...
Thanks for committing to Fitchburg!
Thanks again also to Rep Hay for another great Ribbon Cutting Photo 😃👍
Simonds International Tour
Had an awesome tour this morning by CEO Ray Martino of Simonds International of the Fitchburg Simonds Saw Museum! Started in 1832 and still running today, Simonds in Fitchburg created the first WINDOWLESS factory in the 30's--and people would come from all around to wonder at our marvel of manufacturing architecture =)
Today they make all the cutting supplies needed for the wood industry....and a bit more than that (metal, fibers, paper etc)! Fitchburg has such an amazing History.
Thanks to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce for organizing!
Community Outreach Meeting: Green Era LLC
Notice of Community Outreach Meeting
Please let this serve as notice for a community outreach meeting that will be held by Green Era LLC at 5:30pm on Tuesday, October 30th at the Fitchburg Public Library located at 610 Main St, Fitchburg, MA. The purpose of this meeting will
be to discuss a proposed cannabis retail establishment that will
be located at 371 John Fitch Hwy, Fitchburg, MA.
During the course of this meeting the following topics will be
discussed (but will not be limited to):
- Explain the type of marijuana establishment (retail) and
how it will operate – what to expect
- Site Security
- Plans to prevent underage use
- Plans to positively impact the community
- Provide information to show the establishment will not
be a nuisance to the community.
- Take any questions the public may have
The public is invited to attend the meeting to ask any questions
they may have and receive more information on the topic.
Notice has been issued in the Sentinel & Enterprise (will go live on Oct. 23rd) and has also been sent to abutters within 300ft of the establishment, residents, and city departments & authorities from a list acquired from the Assessor.
Thank you,
Management, Green Era LLC