EASTON MAY ADOPT MARIJUANA FINE AT TOWN MEETING

Curtailing Quick Sale Of Stolen Merchandise Also A Topic

Police are asking for an amendment to the junk dealer bylaw to help
them prevent the quick sale of stolen merchandise at annual Town
meeting, which starts tonight.

The amendment would implement rules similar to those under which pawn
shops operate, mandating that anyone selling items to stores in
Easton must be at least 18 years of age and provide photo
identification. In addition the store must hold the items for 14 days
before re-selling them in order to give police officers more time to
track down stolen goods.

"I'm not suggesting jewelry dealers in town are not honest," Kominsky
said. The delay, however, would help since it takes officers time to
compile a list of what was taken and get to various shops to check
their inventory, he said.

The annual Town Meeting will be held Monday, May 18, beginning at 7
p.m. in the Oliver Ames High School auditorium. While the meeting may
not have any budget items on it, Town Administrator David Colton said
there is something for everyone at this Town Meeting.

The Police Department is asking the town to adopt a bylaw that
prohibits the smoking or consumption of marijuana on town property.
The current nonsmoking law prohibits smoking tobacco products but
does not address marijuana, which, in small amounts, was
decriminalized by Massachusetts voters last November.

Police chief Thomas Kominsky is seeking a bylaw that will allow the
Police Department to issue a $300 fine for each offense.

The November vote did not legalize the use of marijuana and Kominsky
said the new bylaw would not circumvent the law nor make it an
arrestable offense.

"The difference is (smoking) would be in a public area," Kominsky
said. "If it's in (someone's) backyard, we're where we were before."

Deputy police chief Allen Krajcik said Massachusetts state
legislators saw this problem coming and have given the okay for
cities and towns to pass this type of bylaw. The Attorney General's
office has even suggested the language to be used in the bylaw.

"To me we're really talking about kids," selectman Ellen Barlow said.
"Who else would be crazy enough to smoke in public."

Krajcik said of seven people who have been stopped since November,
only two were juveniles. One incident involved adults smoking inside
of a car that was stopped for a construction delay on a roadway.

If residents ever want to see improvements to Five Corners, Town
Meeting is where the process begins.

"Although not exciting, there are the easements needed to construct
the improvements to the Five Corners intersection," Colton said.
"Anyone who has to drive through there every afternoon at rush hour
should be anxious to see this project proceed."

Voters will also be asked to change the dog licensing period in town
to follow the calendar year from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. A new grace
period would extend until March 1 and any dog not licensed by then
would be charged a late fee of $5 per month of non-licensure.

Currently licenses must be renewed by May 1 and owners are charged a
$25 late fee if the dog is not licensed by June 30.

"It's very confusing to people, it's very confusing to the town clerk
who has to issue the licenses," Town Clerk Jeremy Gillis said.

Gillis said the new late fee schedule was more equitable because
those who pay the late fee sooner would pay less of a late fee.

Another warrant article will ask voters to approve submitting a home
rule petition to state legislators asking to be allowed to lease the
Tufts Farm conservation property to tenants who would maintain the
property and also possibly start some type of agricultural endeavor
there. Because the land is conservation land the conservation
commission must seek special permission to lease the house and
outbuildings as well as to maintain a fund for lease money, gifts,
and donations for the property, for the upkeep of the land.

"Let me just complain that we will now spend one year waiting for the
Legislature to approve this home rule petition to rent this farm on
land we own in the town of Easton," Selectman Chairman Colleen Corona said.

The charter committee will also make a presentation on the proposed
change to council/manager government, Colton said.