Cheshire Mulls Marijuana Consumption Bylaw

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
04:06PM / Monday, February 09, 2026Print Story | Email Story

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen is considering a bylaw covering the public consumption of cannabis.

Police Officer Aaron Goodell brought this to the town administrator after receiving an increase of calls about juveniles in possession of marijuana vapes at Hoosac Valley High School.

Chair Shawn McGrath wondered at last week's meeting if they should consider adding an alcohol bylaw or incorporate both substances into one bylaw.

The board had an initial draft based on Dalton's bylaws regarding public consumption.

The draft mentioned any public consumption of marijuana was prohibited with a penalty of $300 for each offense and the bylaw may be enforced through any lawful means.

The board members had many questions and suggested that they table the discussion until Goodell could attend a meeting to answer their questions.

In other business, the board was informed that the free cash certifications would bring in $677,991 from the general fund, $204,394 from the Water Enterprise Fund, and $32,071 from the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund.

Town Administrator Jennifer Morse also brought up the state Department of Transportation's Municipal Pavement Program. The state is planning to improve Route 116 in Cheshire and Savoy in fiscal 2028. Morse said the town will not be responsible for the project.

Tags: cannabis,

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Adams Planning Board Cited for Open Meeting Law Violation

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:12AM / Wednesday, November 11, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — The state Attorney General's Office has determined that the Planning Board violated Open Meeting Law by continuing to deliberate on a matter after adjournment.

According to the determination, the violation occurred after adjourning the Jan. 27, 2025, meeting when three board members stayed to discuss permitting concerns for Aisling Mountain Farm, a 22-acre equestrian facility on West Road owned by Kathryn Foley.

The board was ordered to amend its meeting minutes within the next 30 days, to include a summary of the discussion that occurred after the meeting was adjourned, to certify to to the AG's Office that it has done so, and to comply with the Open Meeting Law going forward.

The ruling stems from a complaint filed by Catherine Foster on Aug. 22, 2025, alleging that the board violated the Open Meeting Law during and after its Jan. 27 meeting.

Although filed nearly seven months after the January meeting, the Attorney General's Office said it met the 30-day filing deadline because Foster did not become aware of the situation until it was raised at a July 23 Select Board meeting.

"The Open Meeting Law requires that complaints be filed within 30 days of the alleged violation, or if the alleged violation could not reasonably have been known at the time it occurred, then within 30 days of the date it should reasonably have been discovered," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Lindberg said in the determination.

"The complainant could not reasonably have discovered that the Board deliberated after adjournment of the January 27 meeting until the issue was raised during public comment at the July 23 Select Board meeting. Because the complaint was filed within 30 days of the July 23 Select Board meeting, the complaint was filed timely as to this allegation"

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