To the Editor:
I have sent the following letter to the Becket Board of Selectmen:
I’m writing in regard to the discussion at the Becket Selectmen’s meeting of August 24, regarding Ipswich Pharmaceuticals President Joseph McCarthy’s proposal to purchase property on Yokum Pond Road for the purpose of building a medical marijuana farm. I was present at the meeting and, while I agree with the objections voiced by nearby homeowners, I would like to emphasize another facet that I think is important.
Becket is declining not only in population but in its attractiveness to young, working families. Jobs are scarce and our excellent school is in danger of being closed because of decreasing enrollment. While some attention is being directed to this situation, such as strong lobbying for better Internet access, we need to look closely at any opportunity for improvement. Mr. McCarthy’s proposal, which offers the strong possibility of 10-15 jobs and tens of thousands of dollars of annual payment to the town, represents a small but significant step forward and against our decline.
Therefore, I urge the selectmen to take steps to keep the conversation going with Mr. McCarthy. Perhaps a suitably sized and priced piece of property can be found that is located in a less residential, more business-friendly part of town. Perhaps other aspects of the potential agreement between Ipswich Pharmaceuticals and the town can be adjusted to make Becket more attractive to the company. By holding further discussions and, if you see fit, soliciting participation of interested townspeople with pertinent expertise, we will thoroughly explore what appears to be a very good opportunity and gain valuable experience in the process of examining future ones.
Douglas Brand
Becket
