FALL RIVER — A public informational hearing has been scheduled for the proposed recreational marijuana business that Mayor Jasiel Correia II, who is dating the owner’s sister, granted local approval last week.
New Leaf Enterprises was given letters of non-opposition and host community agreements by Correia last month, marking the two required municipal approvals a marijuana retailer must have before seeking licensing approval by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission. Correia’s decision drew the ire of several city councilors due to the fact that New Leaf Enterprises’ president, Pedro “Peter” Fernandes, is the brother of Correia’s live-in girlfriend.
Councilor Leo Pelletier described the mayor’s action as “totally inappropriate” and councilor Shawn Cadime descibed it as “corruption at its best.” Correia has defended his decision, saying it would have been a “disadvantage” to Fernandes had he outright denied the man’s application.
Holding community outreach meetings is a mandated part of the CCC’s licensing approval process. The meetings are intended to be a platform for applicants to communicate their business plans to the public and for residents to express thoughts or concerns about how a dispensary might affect their neighborhood.
With over a dozen ongoing proposals for potential Fall River dispensaries under review by the CCC, such outreach meetings have become common in Fall River in recent months. On average, they largely go unattended.
According to the public notice issued by New Leaf Enterprises, the meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m., at Fall River Public Library.
Like every outreach meeting held by planned dispensaries this year, Tuesday’s meeting will cover an overview of the two facilities proposed by New Leaf Enterprises, security plans, diversion programs and community impacts.
Unlike the majority of Fall River’s pending dispensary applications, New Leaf Enterprises’ proposal is contingent on Fernandes’ participation in the CCC’s Social Equity Program, which is intended to assist minorities and people convicted of past drug offenses in entering the now-legal marijuana industry.
Fernandes also has letters of non-opposition and host community agreements signed for two separate dispensary locations in Fall River. Of all the businesses vying to open dispensaries in the city, Fernades’ company is the only one Correia has approved for two separate locations.
Tuesday’s hearing will go over the plans of New Leaf Enterprises’ proposed location at 360 Second St., the current address of his real estate company, Highland Real Estate. The second location is a former salon and consignment shop at 2629 South Main St., just a few doors down from the Rhode Island border.
If approved, New Leaf Enterprises has signed a host agreement that would have each dispensary pay the city an annual $50,000 impact fee and a local tax of 3% of its sales.
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