to talking news we are delighted to have you with us this ng to our presentation by members of the beat street sand marian martha and jonathan we will be reading local news david kay or kail will become the assistant mini manager for finance for the city of cambridge starting march thirteenth marshall who was hired three years ago said she is looking forward to the challenge and will decide if she is going to apply for the permanent position once it is officially posted a request for proposal r a p for consulting services to recruit a town and minister ager has been issued by the board of selectmen a consultant with the appropriate experience will be selected to work with this sort of run and the human resources department to develop the process the prospectus to select a candidate that the as the appointed treasurer for watertown her duties included being the collector park unclear member of the budget team development of the capital improvement program town wide insurance management financing planning and debt service serving on building committees and various construction improvements as well as coordination of projects involving multiple departments what will you miss most about david kale his willingness to be open to the opinion of others and collaborative approach to problem solving budgeting administration issues that come before the board of selectmen for consideration his skill at juggling a volatile tutor projects that demands attention communication work ethic and sense of humor what do you like most about your job the opportunity to work with people during th and other organizations duprat men heads and follow these are working to provide the maximum service for the residents and businesses government has so many neighborhoods and yet people are familiar with their neighbors and look out for one another it's very much a community of individuals who are very involved in their hometown what do you think will be challenging about in the interim there's always so much on the calendar and many meetings to keep the public informed planning for the annual events and continuing to make progress on specific projects is a challenge that brings together different points of view we our team that will continue to find solutions to meet the town's needs in vallance with available resources the budget process is nearing completion and your town meeting is fast approaching the recreation strategic plan and financial task force recommendation slash implementation are before the work in board issuance of contracts for trash collection and continuing to keep open communication among the various departments are a few of the items that will be coming before the board of selectmen and others jonathan may reflect some ten years by john a service the spirit of gourmet was one of the first retail businesses in belmont to receive a liquor license when it opened in causing square ten benoit had to present the concept for the store at a town meeting competing with three other businesses for the all alcohol use we were awarded the license with one of the reasons being that we'd be an anchor and crushing square and help with the revitalization effort said cohen or chris benoit prior to getting into the retail business chris rourke in high tech and was founder of a networking company in the late one nine hundred ninety s which he later sold he invested the money from the sale into the first retail business in russia winchester opening the spirit of gourmet in two thousand and four it was sold in two thousand and ten and is now operating as parings like most new businesses he said they had suffered years of losses while building their customer base but after a few years it became profitable and the operation has steadily grown since benoit is greatly disappointed by that some documents approval to allow the loading dock to transfer its all a liquor license to nearby star market for four hundred thousand dollars when the license transferred to starr was approved a promise was broken with existing glass licensees who were told that liquor retail liquor licenses would not go into big companies we would compete on a level playing field if you read the transcript of the two thousand and thirteen town meeting you'll see how the additional three licenses created were so town meeting members said benoit he recalls a spirit of government it was a condition mentioned multiple times as a an example of the type of store that would receive a license unfortunately because the licensees were mistakenly filed with the state without restrictions on transfer ability restrictions that replaced on the original three retail liquor license as star and the license transfer are were able to exploit the loophole that was created said benoit the board of selectmen had the advil of the to close to loop hill all but two of the three members decided that complying with the wishes of town meeting wasn't necessary he said this week the belmont says and harold talked to chris about his connection to belmont his business and why shopping local is important elena grew up in belmont and her family still lives here i've been around belmont for twenty five years belmont's a beautiful town our customers are the best we do a lot of tasting so people can try things before they purchase and the people who are going to doing the tastings always rave about our customers they're so nice and are really interested in the products being shown one even commented that it was being like being at a family party everyone was having fun and it was very social that's what it's all about we've enjoyed operating the spirit of gourmet over the past ten years the people of belmont and its surrounding communities make it a great place to do business of course there are always going to be a challenge is the revitalization of course the square i was told about ten years ago has failed to materialize mostly due to the delays in the crushing village project it's great that a fight that it's finally underway but no merchants have to deal with losing parking do the purchase of the municipal law the town has benefited financially from the sale of the lot and the fines come like did from the previous developer for delays but all of this is at the expense of course rigs where merchants the town has many needs and the money collected will help address them and that's a good thing we hope the town and the people will support goshen village during the construction we need it to mitigate some of the inconvenience or or we're now offering curbside pick up and addition to our delivery options  marijuana regulation opinions need to surface early by roger cult and belmont will soon face the complex task of deciding how to regulate local marijuana dispensaries within the community under question four approved by massachusetts voters in november twenty sixth seen the recreational use of marijuana was legalized in massachusetts well the state legislature is now considering amendments to the marijuana statute legislators who are involved with that process say that no major changes will be made to the intent of what voters approved the new statute gives the authority and the responsibility to develop local regulations to the town's board of health despite the flacks that is present at the state level belmont residents should be thinking even now about what types of local regulation they might wish on the one hand it might seem that since marijuana is now legal the town could not prohibit its sale within the town borders that conclusion however may well be wrong not long ago for example belmont was still a dry town even though the consumption of alcohol has been legal for some time in contrast david out perch heir of the belmont board of health has said rightly so in my opinion that the board will consider the fact that a majority of voters approved question for the community in other words has already expressed its preference some topics are outside the scope of low local regulation the licensing of marijuana dispensaries for example is within state control belmont therefore would not have the authority to require background checks of owners operators or to require local ownership of marijuana facilities in contrast governing the glow cation of marijuana dispensaries is clearly within the town's control we presumably would not want such stores to be closed to schools they care centers or parks one question is whether we wish to limit marijuana dispensaries to one part of town or whether we should allow them throughout the town for example like liquor sales we might want each major business center to have at least one sales location local regulation of marijuana dispensaries will have some but not all aspects of the regulation of both alcohol and cigarettes the form of marijuana sales however makes the issue of local regulation complex almost beyond belief in some ways the sale could be like that of t where a customer can ask the proprietor to mix and match different types laver's or potencies of the product however marijuana can also be mixed with candy with food or with baked goods on site consumption of marijuana is is allowed in other words sitting down to eat on site each type of sale presents its own issues some aspects of local regulation are very traditional zoning type issues including fencing lighting and hours of operation other aspects might not be traditional at all should there be regulation of trash disposal security and days of operation would it even be legal to require local businesses to display information on the potential adverse consequences of using marijuana in other words impaired driving belmont could do nothing but that would not be wise in the face of local inaction the state would step in to regulate belmont would have to accept what the state decides martha gathered at the town hall auditorium are march three to bid farewell at a reception to cale's honor board of selectmen chairman mark pale and low presented and read it proclamation phyllis marshall and state representative david writers from a personal standpoint i am extraordinarily grateful and humbled with the level of support and the level of loyalty and a level teamwork that i've enjoyed by everybody here today both at the department level committees and the elected officials and others it's really just incredible said cayle he said it will be a seamless transition with assistant town administrators phyllis marcel taking over as interim town administrator beginning march thirteen red cross seeking blood in belmont all eligible blood donors are encouraged to give blood and help save lives in march red cross months belmont residents may donate between one and six pm march twenty seventh that beth temple center to conquer nav donating is easier than ever with a blood donor app and rapid pay pass with the free red cross blood donor app donors can schedule and manage donation appointments access their donor card track the impact of their donations and earn real rewards donors can also save up to fifteen minutes of the blood drive by using rapid pass to complete their pre dawn nation reading and health history questions online it at red cross blood dot org rapid pass before coming to their appointments there are occasions that make it very easy to find a location near you and they're so courteous respectful and efficient there is really no excuse not to donate it's such a small thing that makes such a big difference the mark mark has been recognized as red cross month by every us president since hundred forty three in celebration of the red cross volunteers who help those in need by giving them their time money or blood blood to help red to help red cross blood dot org or call one eight hundred red cross mary belmont world film to host international film series belmont world film presents sixteenth annual international film series transformation featuring nine of the world's films followed by discussions and accompanied by cuisine from march nineteenth to may fifteenth at the studio cinema in belmont three seventy six to pella road screenings begin at seven thirty pm and take place on mondays except for two sunday screenings opening night march nineteenth and april night in an industry that is under fire for lacking in female diversity more than half the films are directed by women highlights include one of this year's oscar nominees for best foreign language film followed by a q and a with the directors via skype and the latest films from acclaimed directors doris durie of germany cherry blossoms how to cook your life and and we lard brazil the second mother the series thing reflects how societies both individuals and communities are constantly changing individuals often undergo a change in cultural status while societies experience a shift in collective consciousness the films in this year series offer the opportunity to look in the mirror and examine some of our most basic human needs and motivations said belmont world film executive director ellen gettleman and at a time when cultural exchange and understanding are more important than ever the post film discussions led by experts or in some cases the filmmakers themselves brad additional insights into the portrayed cultures opening night on march nineteenth featured the massachusetts premier of one of this year's oscar nominees for best foreign language film tana a film based on a true story and performed by the people of the yankel tribe of the venue to islands in the pacific the film is a heartfelt tale about a sister's loyalty a forbidden love affair and the transition from the old ways to the new among the a couple one of a number of villages in central mountain chain that have held on to their fully traditional lifestyle maintaining its belief system and social structure despite contact with the modern world directors martin butler and bentley dean will participate in a q and a via skype following the film for an additional admission of twenty nine dollars audience members may also attend an opening night dinner at the theater at six pm featuring the cuisine of the venue to voters who do not return the census by june one are by law made inactive and my show identification with their address when they go to vote  enough being made inactive is and tiredly the results are for turning the census not where the you vote included in the census mailing is a pet license application for use by owners of dogs and cats licensing for twenty seventeen is currently underway and must be completed by march fifteenth to avoid increased fees and fifty dollars violations three ways to license online by mail or visit the town clerk's office if you are renewing a pet's license and the rabies vaccination is up to date considering licensing online you don't need to know your pets current license tag number and have your credit card and the you'll pay a convenience election april fourth checked voter registration party voting status status precinct ones through age and polling location now to save time and of void frustration on the next day the deadline to register to vote or any changes to voter registration party home address name to be eligible for the town election is march fifteenth the town clerk's office is open daily eight to four and will remain open until eight pm march fifteenth for board of health board of cemetery commissioners library trustees and town meeting members of our eight precincts they will all be on the ballot absentee ballots will be available in mid march voters who qualify for absentee ballots by being out of belmont on election day or have a better cook issue mailing voting in person or challenging to have a conflict on voting day due to religious reasons may request an absentee ballot be mailed to them or may acres of land for three hundred ten thousand dollars according to the town of belmont board of assessors on march sixth he went before the board of survey seeking three waivers which will help him to develop the land into a five home subdivision with a new seven hundred fifty one foot road leading from marsh street to a cul de sac which will be called sleepy hollow road the waivers requested were related to road grade sidewalks and street lights one of the waivers requested is for the elimination of a section of sidewalk necessary to install roadway culverts and maintain an adequate distance from the site wetlands the other waiver is to increase the grade of the road roadway from point five percent to one percent for superior road rage drain drainage the board of survey requested additional information from cho far and will reconvene on march twenty seventh the board of survey is made up of members of the belmont board of selectmen the maximum length of a dead end street allowed in belmont is hundred feet this board of surveyor regulation has been in place for twenty five years the proposed road for chair far as development exceeds the limit by one hundred fifty one feet according to glen clancy director of community development there are four roads in belmont that exceed the six hundred foot limit however these roads were built before the regulations adopted in one thousand nine hundred nine the third wave are requested is to increase the length of the street to seven hundred fifty one feet to reach the higher land near the end of woodbine road several residents spoke in opposition to the board granting the waivers including including arthur krieger partner with a law firm of anderson and creature he spoke as a concerned resident although he is a partner of the law firm that represents the town of belmont as its town council during the hearing selectmen sammy baghdadi said creatures comments reduce the objectivity of the town council and creates a bad image at the board of selectmen is meeting later that evening baghdad said he would not be able to approve the appointment of anderson and creature as the town cunt council that evening the vote on the firm's appointment was postponed to a future meeting mass audubon's facility a bus the property at one hundred  seventy eight mar street shares wetlands with charo far as project and would be affected by the extension of the proposed road ruble presented a very petition with two hundred thirty three signatures to the board of surveyed the petition urges the board of service not to grant any waivers of the board's rules and regulations for the new road being proposed as part of the development of petition the petition states we believe the land owner has the right to develop his property in conformity with the board's regulations however we don't believe that it is in the public interest for the board to waive its regulations in order to allow for more intensive development of the site than would otherwise be permitted we urge the board to take every precaution to make sure that any development of the site minimizes impacts to the neighborhood and the habitat shipshape tips for first time cruisers by dana hammond a boat load of activities if you fear feeling boxed in or overwhelmed with formality think again kind of norwegian princes and royal caribbean sail city sized ships with a casual vibe try stepping aboard one of royal caribbean's record breaking the seas allure of the seas and harmony of the seas  martha thank you for joining us for this episode of talking news please join us next week