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Record of Proceedings

Lee Select Board Meeting - December 2, 2025

Selectboard & Town Boards — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
BodyLee, Massachusetts
SessionSelectboard & Town Boards
DateTuesday, December 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:18

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:01

I will uh call the meeting to order.

0:04

And um just wanted to let everybody know that pursuant to mass general law, we are making a video and audio recording of this meeting so that you've been informed.

0:19

Um and with that, uh, we'll begin the select board meeting of December 2.

0:28

Our first order of business is um the open session minutes from November 18th.

0:35

Did you Gordon and Bob get a chance to review the these minutes?

Speaker 2

0:42

Yeah, I I just I just reviewed them a little bit ago.

0:45

I

Speaker 1

0:46

would entertain a motion for approval or any edits if you would like to make

Unassigned speaker

0:50

any.

Unassigned speaker

0:52

Um,

Speaker 3

0:52

Mr.

0:52

Chair, I move that we uh approve the open session minutes of November 18th.

Unassigned speaker

0:59

Yeah,

Speaker 2

1:00

I'll second

Unassigned speaker

1:01

that.

Speaker 1

1:02

Motion and second on the minutes, and if there's no further discussion on those, I will call for a vote.

1:11

All those in favor.

1:13

All right.

1:15

So I heard three eyes for a unanimous uh approval.

1:21

Our next order of business is public comment.

1:26

So if uh you'd like to make a comment at this point, there is a hand

Unassigned speaker

1:34

uh

Speaker 1

1:35

raise hand button under react.

1:40

That you can hit, or just unmute yourself, turn your camera on, figure it

Unassigned speaker

1:45

out.

Speaker 1

1:48

I have one.

1:50

Looks like James is with us, made it to the meeting.

Unassigned speaker

1:53

Uh

Speaker 1

1:54

James.

Speaker 4

1:54

Yeah.

1:56

Preempted my thing.

1:57

I I know I'd requested to go last.

1:59

I was worried about traffic and all that, but I am here, so uh I'm happy to stick to the meeting agenda if that works for everybody.

Speaker 1

2:06

Sure.

2:07

Sure.

2:08

Thank you.

2:09

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:09

you.

Speaker 1

2:10

Anyone else for public comment before we move on?

2:18

All right, seeing none, we will move into general business, of which our first order is the update from Green Theory Cultivation.

2:27

So, James, if you want

Unassigned speaker

2:29

to

Speaker 1

2:30

unmute yourself, and yeah, thank you for joining us.

2:35

So there's some um, I guess I'll just get started

Unassigned speaker

2:39

and

Speaker 1

2:39

um say that there's been some uh some

Unassigned speaker

2:46

uh

Speaker 1

2:46

since our last meeting, there's been

Unassigned speaker

2:48

some

Speaker 1

2:49

information that's come to light.

2:51

And as maybe people would notice that Harsh isn't uh with us at this meeting, and uh my understanding is he's no longer with uh Aruna.

3:01

So you and you're um in the process of seeking new leadership.

3:07

Um which good luck to you on that.

3:11

But uh and and again, thank you for joining us.

3:14

We we still have those issues uh sort of outstanding from our last discussions that um we wanted to kind of continue with you here.

3:28

And um furthermore, since our last meeting, we have received a $10,000 payment and um a uh you know uh an outline of of future payments to um rectify the debts that you guys have with the town.

3:50

And so um I think that's that's kind of where we stand as far as um what I have in front of me, unless Bob Gordon, do you guys have it?

4:01

Do you either of you have anything you want to add before I kind of hand it over to uh James here?

Speaker 2

4:07

Uh I'm just interested to hear what he has to say.

Speaker 1

4:10

Yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████25%
Cannabis Regulation████████████████16%
Active Transportation█████████████13%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Zoning and Land Use█████████9%
Technology and Innovation████████8%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Procedural███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Lee Select Board Meeting - December 2, 2025

The Lee Select Board met on December 2, 2025, via Zoom due to a snowstorm. Chair Sean, Selectmen Bob and Gordon, Town Administrator Chris, and Planner Brooke discussed several major items, including updates from Green Theory Cultivation (Aruna), a potential bike share program, a housing proposal at the former Price Chopper, and support mechanisms for a Canal Street affordable housing project. Board members expressed cautious optimism regarding Aruna's new leadership and payment plan, showed strong interest in a state-funded bike share pilot, and tabled several items pending further research and input from other boards.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of November 18, 2025: Approved unanimously (3-0).

Discussion Items

  • Update from Green Theory Cultivation (Aruna): James, representing the company, informed the board that Harsh resigned on November 26 and surrendered his equity. Upesh Patel has stepped in as interim CEO, with Jerry Degon handling day-to-day operations. A $10,000 payment has been received, and a plan proposes $10,000 per month through winter and $20,000 per month in spring to cover back debts. James stated the new leadership is committed to fulfilling all obligations, including installing a more aggressive odor control system. The board discussed prioritizing the payment plan to address the water and sewer debt first to keep the utility solvent. Communication should go through James and the new CEO.
  • Bike Share Grant Application: Ryan from BRPC presented a grant application for the Mastods Shared Streets and Spaces Grant, offering up to $250,000 over three years for a pilot bike share program. Lee would be the lead applicant, with other communities joining later. The system would use electric assist bikes at designated stations, operating for about nine months a year. The grant would cover operations and equipment, potentially providing around 100 bikes for the town. Board members had questions about winter storage (not a covered expense), battery maintenance, and the bike-friendliness of Lee's roads. Chris noted the goal is no long-term cost to the town, supported by user fees. The board was receptive and requested more specifics for the December 16 meeting.
  • Potential Housing at 88 West Park Street (Former Price Chopper): Developer and local business owner Muhammad Xabian presented a concept for a three-story apartment building with higher-end units. He stressed the critical need to preserve downtown parking, as the site currently provides overflow parking for Main Street businesses and town events. Xabian proposed a joint venture with the town (e.g., the town acquiring a portion for parking). He expressed concern over the amount of lower-income housing in town and a lack of funding for market-rate or workforce housing. The board welcomed the conversation, suggested he engage the Planning Board, and expressed openness to a town partnership on parking.
  • West Center Street / Canal Street Development (Stephanie):
    • 40R Smart Growth Overlay Expansion: Stephanie, with Chris's support, proposed amending the zoning to include the Canal Street parcel, making it eligible for state density bonus payments (approx. $200k+). These funds could be partly returned to the project. Gordon requested time to understand the financial mechanism and hear from the Planning Board before supporting a letter of support. The item was tabled to December 16.
    • Fee Waivers / Reductions: Stephanie requested the waiving or reduction of permitting and connection fees (building, electrical) as a mechanism for local support, since the town's Affordable Housing Trust is new and has no funds. Chris explained this is a common way to show local contribution for state funding applications. Gordon wanted input from the Building Commissioner and inspectors. The board tabled the decision to the December 16 meeting.
  • Utility Cut Permit (Maximilian / UDF Project): A request to cut Woodland Road to install a water line tapping into the Lenox water system for the proposed UDF development. Selectmen Bob and Gordon expressed strong frustration with the UDF project, finding the use of Lenox water on this site ironic given the town's water history. They moved to table the permit until December 16 to conduct further research.

Key Outcomes

  • Juju's One-Day Entertainment License: Approved unanimously for a singer-songwriter series on December 19, 2025, and January 16, 2026.
  • Utility Cut Permit: Tabled to the December 16, 2025, meeting.
  • Aruna (Green Theory) Payments: Board signaled a preference to prioritize payments to the Water and Sewer enterprise fund.
  • Bike Share Grant: Continued discussion scheduled for December 16, 2025.
  • Housing at 88 West Park Street: Developer encouraged to begin Planning Board process. Town partnership concept to be explored further.
  • Canal Street 40R Expansion & Fee Waivers: Both items tabled to the December 16, 2025, meeting pending further information.

Meeting Transcript

I will uh call the meeting to order. And um just wanted to let everybody know that pursuant to mass general law, we are making a video and audio recording of this meeting so that you've been informed. Um and with that, uh, we'll begin the select board meeting of December 2. Our first order of business is um the open session minutes from November 18th. Did you Gordon and Bob get a chance to review the these minutes? Yeah, I I just I just reviewed them a little bit ago. I would entertain a motion for approval or any edits if you would like to make any. Um, Mr. Chair, I move that we uh approve the open session minutes of November 18th. Yeah, I'll second that. Motion and second on the minutes, and if there's no further discussion on those, I will call for a vote. All those in favor. All right. So I heard three eyes for a unanimous uh approval. Our next order of business is public comment. So if uh you'd like to make a comment at this point, there is a hand uh raise hand button under react. That you can hit, or just unmute yourself, turn your camera on, figure it out. I have one. Looks like James is with us, made it to the meeting. Uh James. Yeah. Preempted my thing. I I know I'd requested to go last. I was worried about traffic and all that, but I am here, so uh I'm happy to stick to the meeting agenda if that works for everybody. Sure. Sure. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment before we move on? All right, seeing none, we will move into general business, of which our first order is the update from Green Theory Cultivation. So, James, if you want to unmute yourself, and yeah, thank you for joining us. So there's some um, I guess I'll just get started and um say that there's been some uh some uh since our last meeting, there's been some information that's come to light.

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