WHATELY — The Whately School Committee this week directed the interim superintendent to request the town’s Selectboard clarify if there is an clear avenue the school can take if there are issues with an adjacent marijuana cultivation site on Christian Lane, if it ever comes to fruition.
Darius Modestow said he would write a letter to ask Selectboard members how resolutions can be obtained if any problems arise at the facility, including light pollution and odor. Scott Hutkoski and Stephen Herbert have applied for site plan approval for marijuana cultivation in existing greenhouses at 149 Christian Lane.
Modestow told The Recorder he and the school committee members want to ensure there will be ongoing oversight of the facility, if it is approved.
Member Maureen Nichols said she wants to know there will be continuous monitoring.
“I think we need to get some sort of policy or procedure in place,” she said. “I don’t know how these businesses run. It’s the first one. It’s very close to the school, and I think we need to be on top of it.
“Neighbors are going to care, too,” she said.
“Especially if the wind blows out of the south,” member Bob Halla added.
This week’s meeting was held in the morning, in part, to allow parents the opportunity to stop in after dropping off their students, but no parents attended. The meeting was briefly interrupted by the citing of the Pledge of Allegiance by two students, along with a message over the public address system.
To close the meeting, committee members were treated to a rendition of “Jingle Bells” by students Rowan Howes on cello and Owen Babb and Emilie Candelaria on violin.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.