I-Team: Casino investors
Published : Wednesday, 17 Apr 2013, 6:00 PM EDT
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Massachusetts Gaming Commission performs background checks on everyone with a financial interest in a proposed casino project.
The 22News I-Team discovered some of the investors are connected to Palmer Renewable Energy. A company that has a pending lawsuit against the city of Springfield.
Palmer Renewable Energy is still fighting to build a Biomass plant in East Springfield. The company's leaders, David Callahan and Vincent Barletta, are also investors with MGM Springfield. Springfield's legal department told the 22News I-Team, Palmer Renewable Energy currently has a land court action filed against the Springfield city council for revoking an existing special permit. The lawsuit seeks a reversal of that decision, not any money.
"There are no financial penalties or reimbursements or penalties look after by Palmer Renewable Energy", says Springfield City Councilor Tim Rooke.
Councilor Tim Rooke told the 22News I-Team the city council did not reject the proposed Biomass plant because of the investors involved with MGM because of the project itself.
"At the time there of the vote there was some political element that came into play. I think that's what prevented some people from supporting the special permit", says Councilor Rooke.
Councilor Rooke was one of two people to support Palmer Renewable Energy's permit. He says the city council overstepped their boundaries.
"It was up to the city council to decide whether or not it was in the properly zoned land and if it was appropriate use. That was are only legal authority", says Councilor Rooke.
MGM Springfield told the 22News I-Team Callahan and Barletta have a limited financial investment and were brought onto the project because they owned the land in Brimfield that MGM originally wanted to build on.
In September, the State Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner approved the final air permit for the Biomass Plant. The legal actions are still pending.
To see all the people and companies that are being vetted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission at this time for suitability click here.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/i_team/i-team-casino-investors
The 22News I-Team discovered some of the investors are connected to Palmer Renewable Energy. A company that has a pending lawsuit against the city of Springfield.
Palmer Renewable Energy is still fighting to build a Biomass plant in East Springfield. The company's leaders, David Callahan and Vincent Barletta, are also investors with MGM Springfield. Springfield's legal department told the 22News I-Team, Palmer Renewable Energy currently has a land court action filed against the Springfield city council for revoking an existing special permit. The lawsuit seeks a reversal of that decision, not any money.
"There are no financial penalties or reimbursements or penalties look after by Palmer Renewable Energy", says Springfield City Councilor Tim Rooke.
Councilor Tim Rooke told the 22News I-Team the city council did not reject the proposed Biomass plant because of the investors involved with MGM because of the project itself.
"At the time there of the vote there was some political element that came into play. I think that's what prevented some people from supporting the special permit", says Councilor Rooke.
Councilor Rooke was one of two people to support Palmer Renewable Energy's permit. He says the city council overstepped their boundaries.
"It was up to the city council to decide whether or not it was in the properly zoned land and if it was appropriate use. That was are only legal authority", says Councilor Rooke.
MGM Springfield told the 22News I-Team Callahan and Barletta have a limited financial investment and were brought onto the project because they owned the land in Brimfield that MGM originally wanted to build on.
In September, the State Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner approved the final air permit for the Biomass Plant. The legal actions are still pending.
To see all the people and companies that are being vetted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission at this time for suitability click here.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/i_team/i-team-casino-investors
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