Weekly Update 4/26/21

At this week's meeting, the City Council approved the transfer requests to get the Elections Department up and running for the remainder of this fiscal year.

We also met in Executive Session to discuss the latest Bask lawsuit against the City Council for denying an extension to their Host Community Agreement. The City has engaged outside counsel for this matter, Attorney George Field. This lawsuit comes despite being quoted in the last Taunton Daily Gazette article on this matter saying that they are in the business of growing, manufacturing, and selling cannabis, "not litigating licenses." Although some believe that Bask may win this suit because they were granted a special permit by the Land Court, the legal premise for denying a HCA is much more ambiguous than that for denying a special permit. There is currently a case pending before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) regarding HCAs, Mederi vs. City of Salem. I eagerly await the decision of the SJC in this case and hope that it further clarifies the authority of cities and towns to make the decisions that are in the best interest of their residents.

The City Council approved Mayor O'Connell's appointments to the Taunton Redevelopment Authority (TRA). Reviving the TRA will help spur revitalization in the City, particularly in the Weir and the Whittenton.