Questions delay Taunton decision on casino deal

May 26, 2012 12:50 AM

By GEORGE BRENNAN

gbrennan@capecodonline.com

TAUNTON — Questions about traffic, payments for city services, commitments to hire local workers and how to resolve disputes between the Mashpee Wampanoag and the city were among the issues raised at a public hearing on the deal struck between the mayor and tribe leaders.

The city council, which must ratify the intergovernmental agreement, delayed taking action Thursday night saying they wanted to take time to examine the questions raised and the answers provided by the town's lawyers and consultants. The council may vote at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night.

Councilors and residents picked apart various aspects of the agreement during the meeting at Taunton High School.

"As soon as you sign that (agreement), as soon as you accept it, we lose our leverage," said Brian Parker, a casino opponent who lives in the East Taunton neighborhood where the tribe plans to build.

The tribe has 145 acres under agreement at the Liberty and Union Industrial Park, near the intersection of routes 24 and 140, where it plans a $500 million resort complex that will feature three hotels, a casino, restaurants, retail shops and a water park.

Before the meeting, casino supporters lined the sidewalk to the school holding signs urging a yes vote in the upcoming referendum vote on June 9.

Inside the auditorium there was a different tone as casino opponents lined up to speak against the project — one woman calling the legal document "wishy-washy."

"Why are jobs, jobs, jobs given the first consideration over our kids, kids, kids?" said Donna Faulkner, who objected to the close proximity of the project to an elementary school.

Tony LaCourse, chairman of Preserve Taunton's Future, urged the council not to rush the vote and questioned why no provision was put into the agreement to secure jobs for union workers.

The tribe has committed to hiring some union workers for construction, but there is no time to reopen the agreement to make that a requirement, Cid Froelich, an attorney for Shefsky & Froelich, the city's legal adviser, said.

Taunton and the tribe are under a tight deadline imposed by the state legislation authorizing three casinos and a single slot parlor.

Federally recognized tribes like the Mashpee Wampanoag have until July 31 to negotiate a compact with Gov. Deval Patrick or the Massachusetts Gaming Commission can put the license out to competitive bid.

Though the June 9 ballot question is not binding, according to the state legislation, the agreement between the city and the tribe makes it a requirement for the project to go forward.

"If the referendum doesn't pass, it's finished," Froelich said.

The Mashpee Wampanoag would pay Taunton at least $13 million per year from future casino revenues, according to the deal.

Part of those funds will come from 2.05 percent of annual slot revenues, which means the payments could increase if the casino does well, Froelich said. The city is guaranteed a minimum of $8 million from slot revenues, he said. The additional $4.9 million is money that will go directly to pay for police, fire, schools and other city services.

Meanwhile, the city will receive $33 million to pay for infrastructure improvements, including roadwork, water and sewers.

Not everyone was worried about the project.

"We're missing out if we don't sign on to this," said