Saugus Town Hall on Central Street.
SAUGUS — Town Manager Scott Crabtree did not meet the deadline set by Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano for recommendations on the seven cannabis dispensaries vying to open in town, and is likely to take another month to deliver recommendations to the board.
During the Board of Selectmen’s May 9 meeting, Cogliano asked Crabtree, who was not in attendance, to submit recommendations to his board by May 19, itself an extension of the self-imposed deadline of April 24. Crabtree had issued a request for information (RFI) from cannabis companies in January, with responses due in 30 days. From there, the RFI gave Crabtree and a “coordinated Marijuana Establishment Review Committee” 60 days to review applications.
Crabtree was under no obligation to meet the deadline and appeared to have the support of three of the five selectmen, who encouraged the town manager to take his time in reviewing the proposals.
The long, drawn-out process has clearly frustrated Cogliano, who was instrumental in lobbying Town Meeting to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to permit dispensaries.
“The only thing that gets done fast in this town is the sneaky contract extension,” he said, referencing the