On August 6, 2023, just three days after I learned about your “afternoon on the water” on Jason Sidman’s boat, I texted you, hoping that you might say or do something that would allow me to think that your loyalties were with 01460 and not with Jason Sidman, CEO of Sanctuary Medicinals, Inc.
That text from me to you, Chuck, was this:
Who negotiated the HCA with David?
How about the HCA with Jason?
Who from the SB, if that’s not obvious.
Of course, you know that the HCA “with David” refers to the 10-year HCA the town entered into with Community Care Collective, LLC (executed on March 17, 2021) to sell cannabis on Great Road; and the HCA “with Jason” refers to the 5-year (infinitely renewable) HCA the town entered into with Sanctuary Medicinals, Inc. (executed on November 3, 2016) to grow cannabis on Taylor Street.
You answered my text promptly with:
Myself, TA (of the month), and Town Counsel
This meant that the terms and conditions for these (two) cannabis-related contracts (HCAs)—which, like all the other HCAs, create long-term relationships between the town and these cannabis-related businesses—were negotiated on Littleton’s behalf (i.e., with Littleton’s pecuniary interests in mind) by these three negotiators:
- town counsel,
- whoever was serving as our TA (lots and lots of turnover in that office during the years that Littleton’s cannabis-HCAs were negotiated), and
- you, the one and only member of the Select Board.
*
On August 13, 2023, a week after you texted me “Myself, TA (of the month), and Town Counsel,” I was looking at the agenda for the August 14, 2023 SB meeting and found “draft HCAs” for Sanctuary and Littleton Apothecary in the Select Board’s “packet” for that August 14, 2023 meeting. I texted you this, Chuck:
Good morning, Chuck
I’ve read the HCA updates for Sanctuary and LA
It appears that Sanctuary’s new HCA lacks the former requirement of annual payments to the town
This new HCA makes no mention of the $5k annual donation to Littleton charities or of the 150 “man hours” of dedicated volunteer time toward Littleton projects
These three benefits to the town that were incorporated in the 2016 HCA are now all completely absent
A fair reading of the new HCA with Sanctuary shows Littleton reaping zero benefit from allowing Sanctuary to conduct business here
Why have all benefits to the town been removed?
I understand that the SJC’s decision from the fall of 2022 required towns to rework their Community Impact Fees with cannabis-holding HCA entities
However, this seems above and beyond what the SJC required
From my vantage point, it looks like Big Cannabis is winning and our little town is losing
Did you partake in the renegotiation of Sanctuary’s HCA?
Chuck, the fact that you did not answer my clear question about your participation in the renegotiation of Sanctuary’s HCA was, to my mind, clear and convincing evidence that you were helping your “deal” friend, Jason Sidman, CEO of Sanctuary get out of his contractual obligation with our town.
To me, it sure looks like you prioritized your “friendship” with Jason over your oath to all of us.
I wonder what that cost us and Jason.
TTYS,
Jkb
Jenna Brownson 