VASSALBORO: Cannabis license denied for Sherwood Lane facility

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro select board members began their Nov. 13 meeting with an executive session discussion with town attorney Patrick Lyons, of Veridian Law, in Bangor. They, Lyons and attorney Seth Russell, from Zerillo Law Firm, in Portland, then renewed the Oct. 16 public hearing on Leo Barnett’s appeal from a decision by Codes Officer Eric Currie (see the Oct. 23 issue of The Town Line, p. 3).

In October, board members allowed Barnett to apply for a license renewal for his cannabis-growing facility on Old Meadows Road. Currie had denied the renewal on the ground that the application was past the deadline.

Board members postponed deciding on an application for Barnett’s other facility on Sherwood Lane, which has not previously been used.

On Nov. 13, the two lawyers debated what different sections of Vassalboro’s Cannabis Business Ordinance mean in terms of license duration and license renewals.

After an hour-long discussion, select board chairman Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., and member Chris French voted that neither Barnett nor his son, Andrew Barnett, can apply for a cannabis license for the unused Sherwood Lane facility. Board member Michael Poulin abstained.

Lyons will draft a formal decision for Denico to sign on behalf of the board majority. Lyons advised Russell and Barnett of their right to appeal to Superior Court.

Town Manager Aaron Miller reminded board members that after the Oct. 16 decision, they had not decided on the amount of the late fee Barnett owed for not re-applying for Old Meadows Road on time. The ordinance says selectmen determine the amount, Lyons said.

Board members agreed to charge a $1 late fee.

Later in the meeting, Miller said Currie has received a few applications for 2026 cannabis licenses, including one from Barnett for the Old Meadows Road property.

In other business, Miller gave board and audience members a summary of Nov. 4 election results. The revised TIF (Tax Increment Financing) document, approved by a very narrow margin, is now being reviewed by staff at the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, he said. The expansion of the select board from three to five members, approved by a wide margin, will be effective at the June 2026 local elections.

Board member French volunteered to draft a policy for a five-member board. Miller said French should be able to find samples from other Maine towns to adapt.

Voting Nov. 4 was held at Vassalboro Community School; a steady trickle of voters showed up at the town office, unaware of the change of location. Denico led a discussion of ways to better publicize the polling place next time.

Miller and board members discussed Vassalboro’s financial situation as of the audit for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024, and found it satisfactory.

Resident Frank Richards, who has been helping with financial policies, asked when the audit for the immediately previous fiscal year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) will be available. Miller said he hopes by the end of January 2026, before 2026-27 budget discussions start.

Board members accepted the manager’s plan to issue an RFP (request for proposals) for a financial professional to evaluate Vassalboro’s “financial management and accounting procedures.” Approval of the wording is scheduled for the board’s Dec. 11 meeting. Miller thinks the assessment could lead to a recommendation for a new town employee doing financial management.

On another money issue, board members agreed on asking prices for foreclosed properties they will offer for sale. On French’s recommendation, they postponed action on two pieces of land, totaling 20 acres, that French thinks they should consider keeping for town use.

Board members previously agreed to keep a little less than five acres adjoining the transfer station for future expansion of the facility. Under the recent state law, keeping land means buying it; they have assessed the piece at $10,000, which Miller said about equals the amount of taxes due.

When tax-acquired property is sold, state law now says municipal officials deduct taxes due and other expenses and send the rest of the purchase price to the former owner or heirs.

Miller and French raised two technology-related issues.

French praised the Town of Ashland’s website, which he said is created and maintained by an Aroostook County firm. Miller will look into it.

Miller had learned of ZenCity, a company that helps gather community sentiment, by collecting information on social media sites and using AI (artificial intelligence) to aggregate it – “sort of a virtual town meeting, or digital town hall,” Miller summarized. Denico asked whether its results are public records, and whether it is subject to abuse.

The next regular Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, Dec. 11. The usual second monthly meeting for November would have fallen on Thanksgiving and has been canceled.