[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6489763,"mediaKeyId","5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c","parentId",5716549,"title","Council grants special permit for recreational marijuana retail at 15 Main Street, 11–1","audioSeconds",90,"startMs",2438000,"endMs",2528000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c&start=2438&end=2528","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c/thumbnail_2438000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6489763/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-grants-special-permit-for-recreational-marijuana-retail-at-15-Main-Street-111","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489763-81745123ad2f6e82d4c40901734911ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164288&Signature=AECRbk5zxBapNTG6ilRIb~esbxcM8v9rWg5rlzwOvd0DGDSsoZMq-P~S4jhxYkadOuKaOlpUst3J1BMa999n6nsZ70FDwffKg~Ei2iaBYpk3vIvf76bg-4gQou8OAibwUdugWeyEERJOC8PzUXczALguKfM~tzB9r8R~1EVl79icq4EB-Om41f26KZhb3rqrzh6AZk9p42S3azCSlHhcf7T1DJ8yGCX9PdwC9BYOZXCdIFw88c2CuPZKkWcS0-D85YXVaI7~P9uywyRGJm73dcE8Sbmk0g0RhmHnMyfw4Gbhqb3Y1Yq8VZqNvyixYVVx9ZLuqqMR6cm7bZIxuN~4Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke","date","2025-09-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Holyoke City Council voted 11–1 on Sept. 2 to grant a special permit for a recreational marijuana retail establishment at 15 Main Street to Sexton MA LLC, carrying over conditions that had applied to the previous owner.

The order had been recommended for approval by the Committee on Ordinance, which listed as endorsing councilors Israel Rivera, Bacon, McGrath Smith, Bartley and Jenny Rivera. Committee members reported the applicant had been vetted, outstanding fire-department issues had been addressed, and the committee recommended adopting conditions used for the prior licensee.

As presented in committee and to the full council, the applicant is effectively purchasing an existing license and was required to meet outstanding safety and notification conditions before operating. Interim meeting discussion said the special permit fee paperwork and vetting had been completed and that the committee expedited consideration so the applicant could meet state licensing deadlines.

Clerk roll-call voting recorded 11 ayes and one nay. The council president declared the special permit approved; members said the vote preserves committee conditions and sets the permit for the new owner under existing municipal terms.

The council did not read additional conditions into the record at the time of the vote; staff said the permit will be subject to the same conditions that applied to the prior owner and any applicable state Cannabis Control Commission requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City Council 9/2/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Holyoke City Council approved a special permit for Sexton MA LLC to operate a recreational marijuana retail establishment at 15 Main Street, carrying over conditions from the prior owner; vote was 11–1.","taxTitle","Holyoke City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",52807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6489777,"Holyoke council sends $26.1 million in school roof projects to finance after MSBA approval",316,5680000,5996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c&start=5680&end=5996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c/thumbnail_5680000.jpg","/articles/6489777/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Holyoke-council-sends-261-million-in-school-roof-projects-to-finance-after-MSBA-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489777-beb71e44c6e66226e1091dcd7e12e82f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164288&Signature=VO3CxOg2MZR8FKxk2~Fnahs0xpuD5oX5saIDsiRi4vS0Sp5XpGnOmeBMkW-td9jrWFu3gK~v4RhKAaFGIO8JbWgt7BDGFsWeTLZx~C1rQs9cTRXVd80uR86~aPFTG7h7AAr6~MSqKs3sBI1aBp7Vo7oJOeZLH9GZMgpsFlkSe1jL0yLxZsZdoDNOR7n6hX3gcPLQTXwmy0Mdy6WWlIyWEB~PK6P~lTwifn5LBR7edPZHFM4tPWfFpGPxttn5EiDKC5bM06Leqe2d2Ql8SM7PoU-zT-b8OHG7DR6foZxZ7H5k0hl6zgwZAYnE1udMgYGeIY0N-dNQMqRrNqdjgRgOHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Holyoke City Council on Sept. 2 voted to take up three school-roof projects and referred the appropriations to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

The council voted to send to finance first-reading motions for: $8,691,405 to replace the roof at the Kelly School (item 65); $4,498,497 for McMahon Elementary School (item 66); and $12,945,697 for Holyoke High School (item 67). Councilors suspended the rules to take the three items up out of order and approved sending them to the Finance Committee for detailed review.

Sean Sheedy, representing the school department in public comment, told the council the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) at its most recent board meeting “voted yes on these 3 projects.” Sheedy said Holyoke’s projects will receive MSBA reimbursement of about 80% of eligible costs and that the authority is now reimbursing for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades such as bathroom work, door widths and railings in addition to roof replacements.

Council action at the meeting was procedural: the council passed the motions to refer the three appropriation orders to the Finance Committee for budgetary review and next steps. No final appropriation was adopted by the full council at the Sept. 2 meeting; the Finance Committee will examine the projects’ details and recommend whether to advance appropriations and bond authorization.

If the MSBA reimbursement percentage and the city’s share remain as discussed, the projects would represent a major capital investment in school infrastructure with a significant external funding share. The council clerk said the city would notify the School Department and the Finance Committee of the referal and schedule the items for committee consideration.","The council passed a motion to refer three school-roof appropriation orders—totaling $26,135,599—to the Finance Committee; the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) voted to approve reimbursement of about 80% and to reimburse ADA accessibility upgrades.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6489791,"Holyoke residents press council for public process on opioid-settlement spending and housing liaison",518,232000,750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c&start=232&end=750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5716549-d2bb5b296b1999527e5330253717a30c/thumbnail_232000.jpg","/articles/6489791/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Holyoke-residents-press-council-for-public-process-on-opioid-settlement-spending-and-housing-liaison","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489791-181314f0241d505b45ad4659fc98c48e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164288&Signature=V7YKF01QN8YWTyuz3aHb7kok5OeOLTJj8GEXmRq~mY0sJipRGMscLJIRzAWYtjtrsovHVi5CgWhcTCDjzcN9lD15B6jyTiol55cOv2SBP4LCXB7xxx4GC30vjGq19Guf0n5Q-UszftZG3YBpljfTveeakBhuwy4FzH5kFJWHmNzAfPLme5mKjADkOXpZomyO7YGhZ3QJsktQ5x9xW6NVOxDMvxUCGU6sbuJS2M7a1VRTDdOE1g19C~Q-sBKyiHpgvMap1nr8ZFdlF7r9kfLe21BVPs6MH-6-M8mp-xF2noYaNpLPZ15Xf-IcVpUjzPZ5XtI4sSvPIr9vAuMjCMyK8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents at the Sept. 2 Holyoke City Council meeting urged elected officials to use a public, community-driven process before committing opioid-settlement funds and to avoid using those funds to pay for a proposed homeless and housing liaison position.

The most pointed comments came from Nadia Schussler, who identified herself as a social worker, addiction researcher and harm-reduction advocate. “This man didn’t die because of an overdose. He died because he was alone, and there was no one there to revive him,” Schussler said, describing a recent local fatality. She urged the council to ensure decisions “truly reflect the needs and demands of the people most affected by this crisis,” and urged broad public notice for community feedback forums on use of the settlement funds.

Resident Claire (Linwood Avenue) told the council she had repeatedly asked about proper disbursement of opioid-abatement settlement money and objected to using those funds for a homeless and housing liaison. Claire said the settlement money must be used specifically for opioid-related programs and that the funding “requires a public process.”

Mimi Panich, a resident who spoke about an unrelated conservation land issue, also cautioned against assuming organizations or buyers had acted improperly without a fuller look at state policy; her remarks referenced the state’s Chapter 61/61A/61B conservation tax rules in the context of a recent local land transaction.

Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti announced two city-run community feedback forums on the opioid-settlement funds for Monday, Sept. 8: a drop-in session noon–2 p.m. at the library and an evening session 6–7:30 p.m. at the Council on Aging Senior Center with Spanish interpretation. She asked the public to spread the word and attend.

The council did not take a formal vote on the opioid-settlement spending at the Sept. 2 meeting. Multiple public speakers asked the council to ensure any allocation follows both the settlement’s allowable uses and a transparent public engagement process.

The comments reflected recurring community concerns at recent meetings about homelessness, public safety and whether certain municipal or mayoral proposals should be funded from opioid-abatement proceeds rather than other sources. Councilors in public remarks acknowledged the need for outreach and said the Sept. 8 forums were intended to gather that input.

The council received the public comments; no ordinance, appropriation, or staff directive to reallocate opioid-settlement funds was adopted at this meeting. The council president and staff said they would publicize the Sept. 8 forums on city channels.

The city’s next substantive step on the topic will be the publicly announced forums, where residents and service providers can offer input on priorities and eligible uses of the settlement money.","Multiple residents urged the Holyoke City Council to use a public process before allocating opioid-settlement funds and questioned plans to finance a homeless/housing liaison with those funds; the council president scheduled two community feedback forums for Sept. 8.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council grants special permit for recreational marijuana retail at 15 Main Street, 11–1

Holyoke council sends $26.1 million in school roof projects to finance after MSBA approval

Holyoke residents press council for public process on opioid-settlement spending and housing liaison