one State cop looses pension... 4 other get their jobs back

A small sign that the system works. Convicted Trooper Raftery had his pension suspended.

By Matt Rocheleau Globe Staff  March 28, 2019

Four State Police troopers suspended in the overtime fraud scandal should get their jobs back — at least for now — and be paid back for the months spent on unpaid leave because the department failed to follow proper procedures in disciplining them, the state’s Civil Service Commission ruled Thursday.

The troopers were suspended without pay indefinitely in mid-August after the department notified them in memos that its ongoing audit had uncovered evidence they had skipped numerous overtime shifts, according to documents filed with the commission.

None of the four troopers have been charged criminally.

One of them — Trooper Daniel E. Crespi — was accused by the department of skipping all, or a portion of, 294 shifts during 2016 and 2015, records show. That total appears to be a higher number of skipped shifts than any of the 10 troopers charged criminally in the fraud scandal.

Trooper Jeffrey J. Russell was accused of skipping all, or a portion of, 130 shifts, while Trooper Jeffrey K. Reger was accused of skipping some or all of 88 shifts during 2016 and 2015; and Trooper John F. Adams was accused of skipping all or some of 13 shifts in 2015.

About one month after being suspended, the troopers appealed to the Civil Service Commission, which on Thursday agreed with the troopers that the department did not afford them due process before handing down the discipline.

The States first pot shop drive through

Not only has Uxbridge seen the light regarding the potential benefits of added revenue, but they now suggest allowing a drive through pot shop and even expanding the limit of pot shops in their Town. 

And we can't even get one going here in the Ham.

By Susan Spencer
Telegram & Gazette Staff

Posted Mar 27, 2019 at 5:48 PM Updated Mar 27, 2019 at 7:39 PM

UXBRIDGE – Uxbridge may become home to the region’s first drive-in retail marijuana dispensary, if a proposal that received approval for a host community agreement by selectmen on Monday succeeds in getting a license from the state Cannabis Control Commission.

Ironstone Express Inc., proposed by its president, Barry Desruisseaux, who is also vice chairman of the Planning Board, is the fourth retail marijuana business that selectmen have voted to sign a host community agreement with. The town has capped the number of retail pot shops at three, however, and one, Caroline’s Cannabis, has opened for business. The other two are pending in the state licensing process.

Selectmen expressed a desire to “let the market sort it out” and place an article on fall town meeting warrant, or through special town meeting or citizens’ petition earlier, that would raise the retail marijuana cap.

Mr. Desruisseaux said the express, drive-in facility would be in what is now a car wash at 454 Quaker Highway.

The idea came to him, he said, from concern over people with disabilities having to wait in long lines to get into traditional marijuana retailers, and from a privacy perspective.

“It’s none of your business what I do,” he said, noting that there still is stigma about purchasing marijuana. “Everyone stays in their vehicle. It’s a one-on-one transaction,” in his proposed store.

A few drive-in marijuana retailers have opened in Colorado and elsewhere, but not in Massachusetts, Mr. Desruisseaux said.

Ironstone Express would not be the kind of retailer with 48 different strains of marijuana, he added. “This is something where people can come in, get what they need and get out.”

Mr. Desruisseaux said he intended to sell prepackaged marijuana grown by cultivators in Uxbridge.

He has met with other town officials, including the chief of police, to discuss security, health and safety concerns. Drivers would have their license scanned before entering an order bay and then when they pick up their product down the line. No one would leave their vehicle and drivers won’t be allowed to have passengers under age 21.

Under the host agreement, Ironstone Express would pay a 3 percent community impact fee, plus the 3 percent local sales tax. The town manager was authorized to negotiate additional terms.

According to projections presented by Mr. Desruisseaux, the community impact payments, at 3 percent of gross sales, would range from $81,000 in 2019 to 96,236 in 2021.

A host community agreement proposal for another marijuana business, a 130,000-square-foot cultivation facility operated by Cultivate, which has a retail store in Leicester, was tabled until a future meeting because company representatives weren’t able to attend. The cultivation plant would be in Campanelli Business Park, west of the Interstate 146-Route 16 interchange.

https://www.telegram.com/news/20190327/uxbridge-gives-ok-to-proposed-drive-in-pot-shop

The Mayor answers a question about marijuana from Patch

An interview with the Mayor about marijuana. I am disappointed to read the Mayor will "play it by ear" as to how many businesses the city will house. Where the hell has she been all this time?

From the Patch

The Marijuana Industry in Framingham

Spicer holds the strides made so far in the evaluating process for possible marijuana businesses in the city as a testament to collaboration with the City Council. So far, three businesses have moved forward to begin host community agreement negotiations with the mayor and Spicer said the city is playing it by ear as to how many businesses the city will house.

Anyone who has been to a Community Outreach Meeting in the city knows that the majority of concerns by residents aren't about cannabis but about traffic. The police department's traffic and safety division has dwindled to just one officer. Spicer said she realizes traffic in general is an issue throughout the city. "That's why we have a police officer on the MAT team and require a traffic plan," she said.

take a look at the Fox piece today. They looked at crime around marijuana shops in the state. 
 https://www.boston25news.com/news/local-crime-data-shows-recreational-pot-shops-are-good-neighbors/934087250