Springfield City Councilors delay action on casino referendum
Published: Monday, September 10, 2012
SPRINGFIELD – The City Council Monday night delayed a vote on whether any casino deal should be approved by a citywide ballot vote, rather than a ward vote for any selected site.
At the suggestion of Councilor Timothy Allen, councilors sent a proposal for a citywide referendum to a subcommittee for review and a possible public hearing.
Allen initially sponsored the citywide vote on the council agenda, but agreed to withdraw it after speaking with other councilors.
Allen said deciding whether to hold a citywide or ward vote is the council’s responsibility and resolving the issue soon would help casino developers “know what they’re dealing with.”
But other councilors had expressed support for referring to matter to subcommittee, where a public hearing could be held to gauge opinion. Allen said.
City Council President James Ferrera III said he supports the citywide vote, but understood why councilors wanted additional time.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has urged the council to approve the citywide vote, rather than the ward ballot currently called for in casino legislation.
Four developers have expressed interest in building a casino in Springfield - Ameristar Casinos of Las Vegas announced plans for project off Interstate 291 and Page Boulevard; MGM unveiled an $800 million proposal in the South End; Penn National Gaming is developing casino proposal in the North End, on land including properties of The Republican and the Peter Pan Buslines.
Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment is also eying Springfield for a casino after the company ran into opposition from Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse for an earlier plan in Holyoke.
The casino selection process, unveiled by the mayor on Aug. 27, calls for the city to determine in December which casino company or companies have the right to negotiate an agreement with the city.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission plans to meet with city officials Tuesday to discuss the city’s selection process and air criticism over a possible conflict for the city’s casino consultant.
The five-member commission’s meeting is scheduled at 1 p.m. at Scibelli Hall at Springfield Technical Community College.
Commission members raised concerns last week that the city’s consultant might have a conflict of interest.
Stephen P. Crosby, the chairman of the commission, questioned if Springfield made the right decision in hiring the Chicago law firm of Shefsky & Froelich as a consultant.
The law firm is a registered lobbyist in Illinois for MGM Resorts and Penn National Gaming, two of the casino companies seeking to build in Springfield, raising doubts about its objectivity in advising Springfield.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/springfield_city_councilors_de_1.html#incart_river_default
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