Stay informed as news happens. To receive stories like this in your inbox, sign up for our newsletters and news alerts here.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that New Leaf Enterprises has received two letters of non-opposition and signed host agreements for recreational marijuana dispensaries in Fall River.

FALL RIVER — Two days after the City Council continued its debate on limiting the number of recreational marijuana licenses in the city, Mayor Jasiel Correia II signed 12th and 13th letters of non-opposition and host agreements, this time for an owner who has a personal connection to the mayor.

Pedro “Peter” Fernandes, president of the newly incorporated New Leaf Enterprises, signed the the two host agreements July 17 as did Correia the day before, according to documents obtained by The Herald News.

The host agreements state the company intends to open marijuana dispensaries at 2629 South Main St. and 360 Second St., an empty storefront close to the Tiverton border and a real estate office, respectively.

Fernandes is the brother of Jenny Fernandes, Correia’s girlfriend, with whom the mayor shares a residence.

Fernandes' company is the only one that has received two letters of non-opposition to open marijuana dispensaries in the city.

The family, including stepfather Luis M. Bettencourt, recently was granted an exclusive licensing agreement with the Fall River Redevelopment Authority to temporarily set up an entertainment venue at the City Pier. However, that plan was delayed after the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection put a stop to the project over incomplete contamination remediation.

According to the Massachusetts corporation database, Fernandes incorporated New Leaf Enterprises June 22 with 360 Second St. listed as the principal office. It’s the same address as Fernandes' real estate company, Highland Real Estate.

Troy Rocha is listed in the incorporation documents as New Leaf Enterprises' treasurer, secretary, CEO and director, also with the Second Street address.

Correia signed a letter of non-opposition July 18.

Letter of Non-Opposition by Phil Devitt on Scribd

2nd Letter of Non-Opposition by Phil Devitt on Scribd

Unlike the other 11 letters Correia signed for both recreational and medical marijuana dispensaries as well as manufacturing facilities, Fernandes' agreement with the city hinges on his or his partner's acceptance into the Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity Program by Oct. 1.

The program, according to the CCC website, was developed to assist minorities and people convicted of drug offenses in entering the now legal marijuana industry.

The host agreement with New Leaf Enterprises mirrors the city's host agreements with the 11 other marijuana companies in that if proper state licenses are granted, the company will pay an annual $50,000 impact fee after one fiscal year and 3% of sales.

Correia, running for a third term in office, agreed that the optics of granting the letters of non-opposition and host agreement could be questioned, but said he couldn’t “disadvantage” Fernandes just because of Fernandes' relationship to his girlfriend.

He also noted that the CCC, not the city, would grant the company’s license to operate.

Responding to a request for comment from The Herald News, Fernandes referred questions late Monday afternoon to his attorney, Adam Fine.

Calling Fernandes a “good businessman” and a member of the local business community, Correia said the New Leaf owners had to present their plan like any other group and that he was impressed with their plan to seek a place in the social equity program, which is separate from the regular process to be granted a marijuana license.

The mayor said the city should embrace marijuana businesses created through the social equity program.

“Honestly, if they had been looking for a regular letter, it would have been hard to say yes,” Correia said.

The mayor indicated that another marijuana organization would likely receive a letter of non-opposition and host agreement from the administration for a total of 14 letters of non-opposition signed by Correia. He said talks had been in the works with the two companies before the City Council took up the issue of limiting the number of licenses to 11.

“I did not feel we should stop in mid-conversation. They approached me well in advance,” Correia said.

News that Correia had granted letters to his girlfriend’s brother as the City Council debated capping the amount was met with outrage by some councilors.

“Totally inappropriate,” said City Councilor Leo Pelletier, who originally moved to limit the number of marijuana licenses to eight but was overridden by his fellow councilors at the time.

“It’s a slap in the face to everyone in Fall River to think that he would do this,” said Pelletier. “That’s why we want to put a cap on it so this won’t happen.”

City Councilor Shawn Cadime, a vocal critic of the mayor who recently accused Correia during a public meeting of taking “kickbacks” from marijuana companies, called the mayor’s move “corruption at its best” in a text message.

“I’m not surprised and he continues to make my point," Cadime wrote. "Hopefully this election cycle ushers in a new administration so that we can regain some integrity and real leadership for our city.”

Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com.

Loading…