Goldberg fires Cannabis Control Commission chair after year-long battle
Image | Courtesy of State House News Service
Former Cannabis Control Commission Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien and her lawyer, Max Stern, spoke with reporters after a Dec. 14 hearing in Suffolk Superior Court.
Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O'Brien on Monday, her office confirmed, a removal that seems likely to kick the yearlong drama back into the courts.
In a statement, Goldberg said she decided to fire O'Brien are carefully considering more than 20 hours of meetings held earlier this year as well as various documents, case law and policies. Goldberg said she fired O'Brien because she "committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner."
"I do so with deep regret because she has a long history of public service, and when appointed I anticipated she would lead the Commission capably and in an appropriate manner," the treasurer said. "I expect my appointee’s actions to be reflective of the important mission of the CCC and performed in a manner that incorporates the standards of professionalism required in today’s work environment."
Goldberg plan to name a new acting chairperson for the CCC soon, her office said.
After appointing her to the top job in 2022, Goldberg suspended O'Brien, a former state treasurer and the Democratic Party's 2002 nominee for governor, with pay in September.
Goldberg's statement did not provide specific examples of O'Brien's alleged misconduct or inability to discharge her duties as chair of the CCC. Her office declined to provide a copy of any letter or notice outlining the rationale for the firing.
The treasurer had previously given two justifications for O'Brien's suspension and possible firing: that the chairwoman is alleged to have made racially insensitive remarks and that she mistreated former CCC Executive Director Shawn Collins, a former Goldberg deputy. O'Brien denied the allegations against her and in the fall sued Goldberg.
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$2 million taxpayer dollars later, with the CCC struggling, finally Goldberg finally acts. Way too little and certainly way too late. This will certainly be litigated in a court of law and Goldberg had better have her ducks in a row because this could certainly balloon into costing taxpayers another $10 million when all is said and done.
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