People of the Buckland side! Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity. Over the last weeks, I’ve been approached by numbers of neighbors attempting to sway me to one side or the other of the pot bylaw question. Some thought the Planning Board went too far in creating complicated bylaws hand-tailored for our unique and eclectic community. They invested countless hours researching and developing their arguments and positions, and disseminating said information to the community. Others thought the planning board hadn’t gone far enough to protect our town from the industrialization mandated for the marijuana industry by the state of Massachusetts (lights, security, fences, etc.). Still others thought we should leave well enough alone, with home-based businesses churning out baked goods as they’ve always done, albeit with a little something special added to the mix.
I arrived at Town Meeting Wednesday night expecting a full-out brawl. Instead, I found a refreshing dose of participatory democracy. People disagreed without being disagreeable. They presented their findings and opinions. They lobbied hard for whichever side they believed in. In the end, we voted to accept the recommendations of the Planning Board, enacting bylaws that will allow certain types of marijuana-based businesses in certain parts of town under certain circumstance.
This vote, I believe, is a vote to honor our specific brand of small town democracy. It is a vote to trust in the process of the Planning Board, a group devoted to protecting and maintaining the character and integrity of our town, while planning for future growth and sustainable sources of revenue. It is a vote to compromise without becoming contentious, a practice I am proud to model in our current political environment. So. Thank you. You’ve restored my faith in humanity, and that’s no small feat.
Kate Hennessey
Shelburne Falls