Athol board approves agreements with cannabis companies

ATHOL – Host community agreements (HCA) for three cannabis businesses in Athol were renewed by the Selectboard at its meeting on May 6.

The HCAs for MassGrow, Treevit and Boston Garden were extended after several issues were addressed by attorney Phil Silverman, who represented all of the applicants and, appearing via Zoom.

“Essentially, the three HCAs that you have before you are renewals or re-writes of existing agreements that follow the template that the Cannabis Control Commission has laboriously developed,” said Town Manager Shaun Suhoski. “Town Counsel has reviewed these, I’ve reviewed them. We’re good with them.”

The first HCA considered – and approved unanimously – was for Boston Garden, located at 134 Chestnut Hill Ave. No issues were raised, nor problems noted, regarding the company.

“Boston Garden is currently our only retail sales facility in town,” said board Chair Rebecca Bialecki. “This (HCA) is the standard template that the state – for this moment, anyway – is using for host community agreements.”

The board then took under consideration the HCA for Treevit, a marijuana delivery business co-located at 134 Chestnut Hill Ave, according to Suhoski. Silverman told the board that Treevit and MassGrow, while located in the same building, are separate companies.

Bialecki explained that Treevit “can pick up the processed packages from our retailer or some other retailer and deliver it to homes in the area. And somehow the state believes that this is a safe practice.”

Board member Brian Dodge asked if the business was already in operation. Silverman said it has been running for a few years.

“For what it’s worth, there are probably other companies that are delivering to Athol, too,” Silverman added. “Athol has chosen not to ban deliveries, so probably other companies are doing it as well; you’re just not getting any of the revenue from those other companies because they’re not located here.”

A resident asked what happens if no one is home when a delivery is attempted.

“There are different protocols they have to answer to,” said Bialecki. “They can’t just show up and give it to the little kid who answers the door. They have to give it to an adult.”

“There is ID checking,” Silverman confirmed, “and if the person isn’t home, the product goes back to the place where it came from.”

Board member Mitchell Grosky made the motion to approve. Seconded by Marc Maxwell, the motion passed on a vote of 3-1, with Dodge dissenting.

Next up for consideration was MassGrow. Grosky had said earlier that a number of constituents have complained to him about the odor coming from the cannabis cultivation facility located in the former Union Twist Drill factory.

“It seems there has been a bit of an uptick in the odor coming from MassGrow,” said Bialecki. “That’s something we always seem to have discussions about.”

“That’s a zoning requirement, and anybody who wants to bring up a zoning issue should put it in writing to our building inspector,” Planning and Development Director Eric Smith said. “He can’t take complaints unless they’re put to him in writing. He is our zoning officer.”

Grosky asked about the number of Athol residents working at MassGrow. Company spokesman Matt McKenna estimated there are about 150 MassGrow employees, but could not, however, state exactly how many live in Athol.

Bialecki said one of her priorities for MassGrow – unrelated to the HCA – is to see the company remove the large “LP Athol” sign atop the old factory building.

“It would be a really a good way of investing in our town, because that is what makes the building so ugly,” said Bialecki. “So, we’d like to see a little good will.”

McKenna said that the company is trying to get the sign replaced, and since quotes have come in at $20,000-$30,000, they are still looking. Bialecki suggested they reach out to a local sign-making company.

The HCA for MassGrow was approved unanimously.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.