ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen gave Mission Massachusetts the OK to open a medical marijuana dispensary on Howland Avenue in one of two buildings that house Ronnie's Cycle Shop.

 

The board unanimously voted Wednesday to provide Cory Ravelson, general manager of Mission Massachusetts, with a letter of non-opposition and welcomed him into the community.

 

"We have always had a strong interest in locating in Adams and it was always just a timing thing," Ravelson said. "We really look forward to locating here in Adams and being a positive member of this community."

 

Ravelson came before the board last year and ran through his group's intentions and security plan. The board had also agreed at that time to write a letter of non-opposition. Since then, Mission officials have been in contact with the town and the Police Department and have been waiting for the town's marijuana bylaw to pass, which it did this month.

 

"We didn't want to take action until we saw the town's bylaw because we wanted to make sure we had a location the town thought would be appropriate," Ravelson said.

 

Mission has been in touch with Ronnie Ouimet, owner of Ronnie's Cycles, for some time now and plans to lease his smaller 5,400 square-foot building at 150 Howland Ave.

 

Ouimet said he was impressed by the company and thinks they will bring business to Adams.

 

"All I have to say is they have been very professional, and it has been a difficult decision to give up part of our business that we have had for 62 years," he said. "But I think it is worthwhile and I think they will bring good business to Adams."

 

Ravelson said he plans to sign the lease upon town approval and to repave and extend parking at the facility. 

 

He is still waiting for construction on the company's Worcester grow facility to be completed and final state approval but said he anticipates opening before the end of the year, possibly as early as September.  

 

Chairman John Duval said he was happy that Mission Massachusetts were able to compromise and find a location that met the town's needs. 

 

"A few of us had concerns about you locating on Park Street so you have found a compromise that the board is pleased with," he said. 

 

Selectman Joseph Nowak agreed and said the location has access to public transit and is a great location. 

 

Police Chief Richard Tarsa said Mission Massachusetts was forthright in its security planning and has gone beyond state security regulations. 

 

"The relationship they have portrayed and extended to the town of Adams does speak volumes and a lot of groups out there put the cart before the horse," Tarsa said. "But they did this methodically."

 

Ravelson said his company does plan to sell recreational marijuana and have a dual-purpose facility. However, that is a different application process that has "just come into vision," he said, and that he will keep the town abreast of this process. 

 

Ravelson addressed a concern many residents had about marijuana home delivery and said currently it is only allowed for medical marijuana. Mission does intend to offer this service unless there is a demand.

 

Duval closed by asking about the host community agreement that promises Adams a percentage of the profits. Ravelson said this is something Mission and Massachusetts will have to negotiate in the near future.

 

In other business, the Selectmen approved the amended veteran's agent agreement that would extend Stephen Roy's coverage of Adams, North Adams and Williamstown to Dalton, Lanesborough and Cheshire. The agreement has already been approved by North Adams and Williamstown.

 

The Selectmen tabled the vote last week because they were concerned Roy would be stretching himself to thin.

 

Roy attended Wednesday's meeting and said he felt there was nothing to worry about.

 

"It doesn't add any hours to my work week. The only thing it does do is add one hour of commute time," Roy said. "I want to make sure the quality of service does not suffer, and I am very confident I can do this."

 

He said his Adams schedule has been left untouched and he will still hold the same office hours in town. He now has a full-time assistant and a cell phone so is even more reachable. 

 

He currently has more than 120 clients, however, many of them are on "autopilot" and he only needs to meet with them a few times a year. 

 

He added that there is a 90-day trial period and if it doesn't work changes will be made. 

 

During Public Comment, Erica Girgenti, executive director of the Adams Council on Aging, informed the selectmen that the Council on Aging recently received a new 2017 Nissan Rogue from Fallon Health. 

 

"This will expand transportation for seniors in Adams," she said. "It smells brand new and it is shiny."

 

Unlike the passenger vans the COA already uses, the all-wheel-drive vehicle will be better for some of the more difficult roads to navigate in the county, Girgenti said. 

 

She added that the vehicle will be able to leave the state and she hopes Adams can partner with surrounding communities, so others can use the vehicle.

 

Girgenti said the vehicle is not just tied to medical trips but possibly social events and things of the like such as driving grandparents to visit their grandchildren in the hospital.

 

The car came with a $3,000 check that will fund maintenance on the vehicle. She added because the town owns the car, the Department of Public Works can do this maintenance.