Barre Select Board Approves $85,000 Fire Truck, Sets Marijuana Agreement Deadline

BARRE — May 1, 2017 — Barre Select Board unanimously approved an $85,000 used aerial fire truck purchase and set a two-week deadline for completing a medical marijuana host community agreement. The single bid for the aerial apparatus came from an Attleboro dealer that has serviced the vehicle since new, with delivery expected by trailer at roughly $500 and the truck in service within about six weeks. On the marijuana question, applicant representative Paul Cranston told the board a 10,000-square-foot medical cultivation and processing facility would use a sealed greenhouse, carbon dioxide extraction with 95 percent gas recovery, and roughly 1,800 gallons of water daily — figures DPW staff said were manageable. The board demanded host agreement and covenant language in hand before signing any letter of non-opposition, with board member comments due to the town administrator by Wednesday and a draft agreement expected by week's end. A board member also requested a clause requiring the applicant to renegotiate financial terms with the town before any expansion into recreational marijuana. The Cobra establishment's annual license was tabled pending tax payment verification.