Board Prepares for CVS Crowd

Expecting a high turnout for its next meeting that will feature a proposed CVS location at the northeast corner of Front Street and Route 6, Marion Planning Board members on September 15 voted 5-1 to hold its October 6 meeting at the Marion Music Hall to accommodate anywhere from 50 to 100 residents who may turn out for the public hearing to voice their concerns.

Planning Board member Eileen Marum made the suggestion to hold the meeting at the music hall, to which all board members concurred, with the exception of one member – Jerry “Rico” Ferrari.

“There was a great deal of interest generated,” said Marum during a follow-up interview about the CVS plan. “Not everybody concerned could be accommodated in that [Town House] hall.”

A number of residents attended the September 2 meeting when representatives of Mark Investments LLC, the developers of the proposed 14,000 square-foot CVS location, first appeared on the Planning Board agenda.

“There was a real reaction from voters,” said Marum. The initial discussion raised more questions than answers, and Marum felt strongly that a larger space would be necessary to accommodate a possibly larger-than-average turnout

Marum’s three concerns, she said, were the health, safety, and welfare of the residents in attendance, pointing out that, should there be a fire or some other emergency, the Town House conference room could pose a hazard to a large group attempting to evacuate the room.

“And I said, ‘people would be crammed in here,’” said Marum. “Are we going to be able to get all these people out?”

Board member Steve Gonsalves said he would support holding the meeting at the music hall, provided it was televised live for those at home to watch in real time, which the Town House is equipped to do, unlike the Marion Music Hall. Gonsalves ultimately voted in favor of Marum’s motion to hold the meeting at the music hall, seconded by board member Norman Hills.

We are elected officials, said Marum. “And this is a democracy. Everyone should have the right to express their point of view … and we should be able to listen to them.”

Marum said Marion Planning Assistant Terri Santos confirmed that the Marion Music Hall was available the evening of October 6, but final confirmation of the meeting’s location could not be made by publication deadline.

There were no public hearings listed on the agenda, only items listed for discussion.

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for October 6 at 7:00 pm, tentatively to be held at the Marion Music Hall.

By Jean Perry

W_MrPlanningBoard_180814

Leave A Comment...

*