Anyone who believes Hard Rock will reduce taxes ignores reality.
West Springfield committee makes recommendations for host agreement with Hard Rock International
By
on June 21, 2013
WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Town Council casino mitigation committee has sent a letter to the mayor with its recommendations for a possible West Springfield host agreement with Hard Rock International.
WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Town Council casino mitigation committee has sent a letter to the mayor with its recommendations for a possible West Springfield host agreement with Hard Rock International.
Brian J. Griffin Brian Griffin, vice president of the Town Council and chairman of the Town Council Casino Mitigation Committee, sent a four-page letter to Mayor Gregory Neffinger with recommendations for the host agreement.
The committee is recommending an annual payment in lieu of taxes, with a percentage of the money going to reduce residential and business property taxes.
Neffinger said Friday that he had not yet seen the recommendations.
“It has not come across my desk yet,” he said. “I have not had a chance to review it.”
He added, “I am here every day. My door is open.”
The committee also recommends a “community enhancement fee” to be paid over a term of two years, for capital improvements that will need to be made, including the area around the proposed casino.
The committee also recommends a “community impact fee” with a 2.5 percent increase each year. The funding, according to the recommendation, would be used for the “manpower, technology and equipment needed each year that would not otherwise be needed if such a facility was not built.”
A 10-person committee would oversee the foundation.
Griffin also recommended that “Hard Rock shall design, install and maintain an outdoor skating rink for public use during the winter season to be located on the project site.”
He also recommended that the casino operator sponsor or hold an annual hockey festival at the site.
Hard Rock would be required to open the rink the first winter after the casino opens and continue operations for at least five years.
The committee also recommended that Hard Rock “work in a good faith, legal and nondiscriminatory manner” to hire West Springfield residents in the development process, as well as for permanent jobs.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/west_springfield_committee_mak_1.html
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