The Massachusetts Gambling Commission will elect a 2 step process for granting licenses.
The first step will be submission of financial and background information for all potential license bidders. This process will eliminate several developers prior to the more expensive process of presenting detailed plans, investing in municipal agreements, the voting process and the expensive submission. A wise decision by the Commission!
This process, at the most conservative, will take 9 months. After advertising, it was indicated that 3 months (90 days) will be provided for submission, then 6 months for review, after which there will be an appeal period.
Mr. Piontowski or his representatives have been at every Gambling Commission meeting.
Mr. Fernandes has NOT, so may be unaware of this matter.
This reporter has also not attended the meetings.
Mr. Fernandes attended the Gambling Commission's Love Fest during which a great deal of carefully worded propaganda was offered.
Mr. Fernandes also attended the Boston Globe's Love Fest during which a great deal of carefully worded propaganda was offered. Mr. Fernandes even sought advice from the most egregious offender.
This conveniently ignores other communities that have opposed Predatory Gambling and their reasons for doing so, beginning with increased crime not only caused by Gambling Addiction, but also because of those it attracts.
I am a firm believer that those who oppose any position I adopt offer great insight into details I have overlooked. Instead, the Plainville Board of Pickles and town manager have adopted an arrogant position in which they seem to know best and are enamored of a business over the town's residents, even insulting and demeaning those who disagree.
It is interesting to note that Middleboro appointed a study committee composed of the town's residents that raised significant issues.
That was accomplished with a Town Meeting article submitted by citizens' petition.
For Plainville's Moderator to question the legality on Town Meeting floor instead of conducting his due diligence prior to the meeting is disappointing.
The Town of Palmer appointed a Casino Study Committee composed of its residents that determined that the annual cost to the town of a Slot Barn would be $18 million to $39 million, and also raised the expensive prospect of bringing water from the Quabbin.
Yet, it would seem Plainville's leadership is content to remain uninformed!
Plainville town meeting votes against slots study
Posted: Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Sun Chronicle
PLAINVILLE - Town meeting Monday voted resoundingly against requring selectmen to have a cost-benefit analysis done on putting slot machines at Plainridge Racecourse, even though the board fully intends to have the study done anyway.
Proponents of the study may have hurt their own cause with suggestions that perhaps selectmen could not be trusted to have an objective study done.
Selectmen and voters said they took offense to the suggestion.
"That sense that we can't trust them, that's what I don't get," Town Treasurer Kathy Parker said.
The debate over the issue seemed to get off to a bad start when slot-machine opponent Jennifer Keen of Taunton Street said she wanted an independent study mandated so selectmen would not hire "someone recommended by Plainridge."
Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes and Selectmen Rob Rose and Andrea Soucy said they were insulted by the implication.
Rose said the proponents were suggesting he was "in the back pocket" of Plainridge, when his only desire "is to get the best package for the town."
Soucy said Plainridge
Gambling opponent Marcia Benes responded that there was a "poisonous atmosphere in this town" and "nobody should be offended by a request for transparency."
The request seemed to be hurt further by comments by Fernandes and Town Moderator Andrew Martin that the warrant article might not be legal because they believe town meeting cannot compel selectmen to do something.
Someone needs to review the law!
Martin, however, said he would leave it to the state attorney general to decide on the matter.
"I'm not interested in getting dope slapped by the attorney general," former Police Chief Ned Merrick, a supporter of the track, said in urging a vote against the item.
Some of the people who previously said that they supported the item ended up voting against it, and it went down to defeat, 83-33.
The original motion had widespread support going into town meeting, but the tone of the debate and an amendment requiring the study to be done separately from a "host community agreement" selectmen will negotiate with Plainridge dampened support.
Selectmen still intend to hire an outside consultant who will help with negotiations with the racetrack and determine whether revenue to the town from expanded gambling will outweigh the addition traffic and public safety demands slots will put on Plainville.
Fernandes said he will put together a request for proposal within a few weeks, then put the matter out to bid. Under state law, the consultant will be paid for by Plainridge.
Fernandes admits he does not have the expertise to handle the negotiations on his own.
If the agreement is approved by voters in a referendum, Plainridge would apply to the state for a
Class 2 gaming license allowing it to install 1,250 slot machines at the harness track.
The track intends to spend $125 million to upgrade its facilities if the license is granted.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/plainville-town-meeting-votes-against-slots-study/article_f0fd62c3-3706-5c60-91eb-3bb0bb3129f1.html
Proponents of the study may have hurt their own cause with suggestions that perhaps selectmen could not be trusted to have an objective study done.
Selectmen and voters said they took offense to the suggestion.
"That sense that we can't trust them, that's what I don't get," Town Treasurer Kathy Parker said.
The debate over the issue seemed to get off to a bad start when slot-machine opponent Jennifer Keen of Taunton Street said she wanted an independent study mandated so selectmen would not hire "someone recommended by Plainridge."
Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes and Selectmen Rob Rose and Andrea Soucy said they were insulted by the implication.
Rose said the proponents were suggesting he was "in the back pocket" of Plainridge, when his only desire "is to get the best package for the town."
Soucy said Plainridge
Gambling opponent Marcia Benes responded that there was a "poisonous atmosphere in this town" and "nobody should be offended by a request for transparency."
The request seemed to be hurt further by comments by Fernandes and Town Moderator Andrew Martin that the warrant article might not be legal because they believe town meeting cannot compel selectmen to do something.
Someone needs to review the law!
Martin, however, said he would leave it to the state attorney general to decide on the matter.
"I'm not interested in getting dope slapped by the attorney general," former Police Chief Ned Merrick, a supporter of the track, said in urging a vote against the item.
Some of the people who previously said that they supported the item ended up voting against it, and it went down to defeat, 83-33.
The original motion had widespread support going into town meeting, but the tone of the debate and an amendment requiring the study to be done separately from a "host community agreement" selectmen will negotiate with Plainridge dampened support.
Selectmen still intend to hire an outside consultant who will help with negotiations with the racetrack and determine whether revenue to the town from expanded gambling will outweigh the addition traffic and public safety demands slots will put on Plainville.
Fernandes said he will put together a request for proposal within a few weeks, then put the matter out to bid. Under state law, the consultant will be paid for by Plainridge.
Fernandes admits he does not have the expertise to handle the negotiations on his own.
If the agreement is approved by voters in a referendum, Plainridge would apply to the state for a
Class 2 gaming license allowing it to install 1,250 slot machines at the harness track.
The track intends to spend $125 million to upgrade its facilities if the license is granted.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/plainville-town-meeting-votes-against-slots-study/article_f0fd62c3-3706-5c60-91eb-3bb0bb3129f1.html
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