As the Massachusetts Department of Public Health scrambles to write regulations for the medical marijuana law that went into effect Jan. 1, towns are preparing for their own kind of scramble amid the prospect of medical marijuana dispensaries in counties across the state. They don’t have long, Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force coordinator Theresa Manning warned the Dukes County commission this week.
In an attempt to raise more revenue, Dukes County commissioners voted this week to support a state bill spearheaded by Norfolk county that would raise registry of deeds filing fees by $10.
The proposed $10 fee hike would go to county governments that manage their own registries; for registries under state control, the extra money would go into the state general fund.
Based on last year’s numbers, register of deeds Dianne Powers said at the Wednesday meeting that the $10 fee hike could raise another $130,000 for the county annually.
Uma Datta jingles around her kitchen in her bedazzled blouse as she pours a cup of Chai tea and gives her tamarind sauce one last stir before setting it down on the granite countertop next to some fried samosas.
“You get French fries here? You get samosas in India,” said Mrs. Datta. On the counter there are also cashew nut rolls, condensed milk squares, and raisin and nut mixes. From her refrigerator she pulls out curried chickpeas, roti and, for the last course, pistachio ice cream.
Unconvinced that the town is getting its money’s worth from the county integrated pest management program, one Tisbury resident proposed this week that the town establish its own program.
“I think we can do it for cheaper and also want to add skunks,” said Joe Tierney, who is chairman of the town emergency services facility building committee. His remarks came at the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday.
Cord Bailey stood in the doorway of the regional high school culinary arts dining room, aviator shades on, arms crossed. Tantalizing smells of chicken and bacon floated into the hallway. Inside the dining room the annual Brazilian American Friends lunch was taking place. Only 42 lucky students were granted access.
