The Plainville Pickles are at it again!
Incapable of assessing COSTS, refusing to hire a Cost Analyst to assess those costs, the Pickles have begun meeting to discuss the proposed Slot Barn at Plainridge Race Track.
Other towns have appointed citizens' committees that conducted public meetings to determine host community costs and solicited input from residents.
Not so Plainville where leaders are still scratching their heads, waiting to be spoon-fed rather than accomplish the difficult process of THINKING and RESEARCHING.
The small town of Palmer appointed a Citizens Casino Study Committee that determined the annual cost to host Mohegan Sun would be $18 MILLION to $39 MILLION per year, not including the $50 MILLION to bring water from the Quabbin Reservoir.
If Palmer and Middleboro could do it, it would seem to be only the obstinance of Plainville's leadership to short-change the future of the community.
What will they do when Predatory Gambling expands, as has already been discussed, and table games are added?
Town begins gaming talks with Plainridge
Posted: Friday, October 12, 2012
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
PLAINVILLE - Town officials have met with Plainridge Racecourse representatives four times to talk about allowing slot machines at the track, but insist they still intend to hire a consultant to help them negotiate a host agreement.
Selectmen had said at the start of the process of Plainridge applying for a slot machine license that the board lacked the expertise in gambling to negotiate a deal with the Route 1 track on their own.
They said they would hire a consultant, which will be paid for by the track, to help them through the steps required for reaching an agreement on how much the track would pay the town and other items to mitigate the impact of expanded gambling at the site.
The news that Selectman Rob Rose and Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes have met with track President Gary Piontkowski four times before hiring a consultant angered anti-gambling activist Mary-Ann Greanier.
"More than once we were told that the board of selectmen would never enter into negotiations without a consultant in place," she said in a letter to Fernandes.
"But somehow, at Mr. Piontkowski's behest, we have, in fact done just that."
Fernandes expressed frustration that some slot machine critics seem intent on discrediting town officials without knowing the facts.
He and Rose insisted a consultant will be hired soon.
A request for proposals seeking consultants to apply for the position should be done next month, Fernandes said.
The request, or RFP, has been delayed because selectmen thought the state Gaming Commission was going to issue a draft proposal for all towns to copy, he said.
He said the four meetings with Plainridge were preliminary, and no offers were made.
"We will not respond to them until we have a consultant on board," he said.
The first two meetings involved talking about setting a process for future talks, he said.
The third meeting involved Piontkowski outlining his estimates of how much revenue 1,250 slot machines could generate. The last meeting took place on Tuesday and centered on the planning board's role in considering altering its special permit rules to allow for slot machines, he said.
Fernandes said a consultant will be hired before any negotiations on the substance of a host community agreement begin.
Rose said the four meetings have been "nothing substantial ...We're trying to get the ball rolling."
He said the meetings have begun because selectmen are concerned that the gaming commission might issue a deadline for reaching an agreement and applying for a license that would catch the town unprepared.
[The Gambling Commission has stated that the initial step of the process will require about 6 months. In addition, they have indicated that the first license will not be issued until 2014. Instead, it would seem Mr. Pointkowski is driving the train.]
Below is a copy of an email I just sent to Joe Fernandes and the Board of Selectmen. I also sent it to the press.
I am really angry that the BoS continues to negotiate with Plainridge without a consultant in place and without a cost benefit analysis. I think they must be told to stop.
Best,
Mary-Ann
Hello, Joe,
Thank you for taking the time yesterday to explain your thoughts and process about the RFP and about negotiations with Plainridge. After digesting what you said, I have a couple of responses.
First, I can't see any reason why the consultant we hire shouldn't also have expertise in traffic issues. In fact, I think it's imperative that her expertise in traffic analysis runs deep.
Even though the Planning Board will have to look at traffic issues when considering an amendment to Plainridge's special permit, they must make their decision on a very narrow set of parameters; perforce, they will not have the same bargaining power that Plainville, as potential Host Community, will have. There are many and varied issues around the impact of traffic in and around the track about which the Planning Board will not be able to analyze, decide or mitigate. Those issues can and must be analyzed, decided, and mitigated in the Host Community Agreement.
Any consultant hired to perform the CBA and to assist in negotiating a Host Community Agreement must be free to do her own traffic analysis and to make recommendations based on what she finds. It's far better to over-scrutinize the impact of 6,000+ vehicle trips/day, into and out of Plainridge, and the domino effect on the surrounding roads and residents, than it is to leave it to Planning Board.
I cannot urge you strongly enough to include the requirement of significant traffic analysis experience in the RFP.
On the matter of negotiating with Plainridge absent the CBA and absent a consultant: I listened to your explanation of why the Board of Selectmen has agreed to begin negotiations with Mr. Piontkowski. You said that there have already been four negotiating sessions without a consultant in place; I do not agree with the Board's decision to begin negotiating without the protections that citizens of Plainville were assured would be in place.
You spoke of Mr. Piontkowski's "frustration" at wanting to be "First of Marketplace," and his desire to begin negotiations. As best as I can glean, he was upset that negotiations with Suffolk Downs, Springfield and Taunton were enjoying public support from elected officials like Mayor Menino, and wanted the Board of Selectmen in Plainville to start negotiations with him even though he knows full well that we have not even sent out an RFP to hire a consultant.
More than once we were told that the Board of Selectmen would never enter into negotiations without a consultant in place. But somehow, at Mr. Piontkowski's behest, we have, in fact done just that. It doesn't matter to me that you have told Mr. Piontkowski that you "won't respond to anything that's offered." The fact of the matter is, the people of Plainville were assured that the Board of Selectmen would go into these negotiations fully armed with a consultant and information. Instead, three people who have all admitted they lack expertise have decided to enter into negotiations with a man who has a great deal of expertise, indeed.
Please, stop negotiating. Wait until we have a consultant and a CBA before listening to anything more that Plainridge might have to offer. The process is opaque to the citizens of Plainville; we are not allowed to see or hear what goes on in those meetings. We don't even know if a record is kept of the meetings, and if we will ever have access to those records. Therefore, I would feel much better about the whole affair if there were an expert or experts sitting on our side of the table for any and all negotiations. Let Mr. Piontkowski speak to you when our consultants (and perhaps our Town Counsel) are in the room. I believe this is the "deal" you struck with the people of Plainville. It's time to live up to it.
Thank you again for your time.
Regards,
Mary-Ann Greanier
I am really angry that the BoS continues to negotiate with Plainridge without a consultant in place and without a cost benefit analysis. I think they must be told to stop.
Best,
Mary-Ann
Hello, Joe,
Thank you for taking the time yesterday to explain your thoughts and process about the RFP and about negotiations with Plainridge. After digesting what you said, I have a couple of responses.
First, I can't see any reason why the consultant we hire shouldn't also have expertise in traffic issues. In fact, I think it's imperative that her expertise in traffic analysis runs deep.
Even though the Planning Board will have to look at traffic issues when considering an amendment to Plainridge's special permit, they must make their decision on a very narrow set of parameters; perforce, they will not have the same bargaining power that Plainville, as potential Host Community, will have. There are many and varied issues around the impact of traffic in and around the track about which the Planning Board will not be able to analyze, decide or mitigate. Those issues can and must be analyzed, decided, and mitigated in the Host Community Agreement.
Any consultant hired to perform the CBA and to assist in negotiating a Host Community Agreement must be free to do her own traffic analysis and to make recommendations based on what she finds. It's far better to over-scrutinize the impact of 6,000+ vehicle trips/day, into and out of Plainridge, and the domino effect on the surrounding roads and residents, than it is to leave it to Planning Board.
I cannot urge you strongly enough to include the requirement of significant traffic analysis experience in the RFP.
On the matter of negotiating with Plainridge absent the CBA and absent a consultant: I listened to your explanation of why the Board of Selectmen has agreed to begin negotiations with Mr. Piontkowski. You said that there have already been four negotiating sessions without a consultant in place; I do not agree with the Board's decision to begin negotiating without the protections that citizens of Plainville were assured would be in place.
You spoke of Mr. Piontkowski's "frustration" at wanting to be "First of Marketplace," and his desire to begin negotiations. As best as I can glean, he was upset that negotiations with Suffolk Downs, Springfield and Taunton were enjoying public support from elected officials like Mayor Menino, and wanted the Board of Selectmen in Plainville to start negotiations with him even though he knows full well that we have not even sent out an RFP to hire a consultant.
More than once we were told that the Board of Selectmen would never enter into negotiations without a consultant in place. But somehow, at Mr. Piontkowski's behest, we have, in fact done just that. It doesn't matter to me that you have told Mr. Piontkowski that you "won't respond to anything that's offered." The fact of the matter is, the people of Plainville were assured that the Board of Selectmen would go into these negotiations fully armed with a consultant and information. Instead, three people who have all admitted they lack expertise have decided to enter into negotiations with a man who has a great deal of expertise, indeed.
Please, stop negotiating. Wait until we have a consultant and a CBA before listening to anything more that Plainridge might have to offer. The process is opaque to the citizens of Plainville; we are not allowed to see or hear what goes on in those meetings. We don't even know if a record is kept of the meetings, and if we will ever have access to those records. Therefore, I would feel much better about the whole affair if there were an expert or experts sitting on our side of the table for any and all negotiations. Let Mr. Piontkowski speak to you when our consultants (and perhaps our Town Counsel) are in the room. I believe this is the "deal" you struck with the people of Plainville. It's time to live up to it.
Thank you again for your time.
Regards,
Mary-Ann Greanier
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