Milford casino: Gaming Commission talks surrounding community outreach
BOSTON —
Massachusetts Gaming Commission members said successful negotiation with surrounding communities would be an important factor in casino application success.
In a conversation during last Friday's commission meeting about notifying communities near casino applicants, Chairman Stephen Crosby said surrounding community approval would be considered by the commission.
"If an applicant comes in with a whole bunch of unresolved communities in need of arbitration, we can say that's not very satisfactory," he said. "If they come in with it buttoned up, that's a measure of community support for the project."
Commission Ombudsman John Ziemba gave a report about outreach to surrounding communities at the meeting, speaking about the efforts of each applicant.
"Even though this is a short timetable, we believe the communities most likely to be impacted know they're likely to be impacted," he said.
Ziemba's report noted that the Milford applicant, Foxwoods, had reached agreement with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to study impacts on surrounding communities. Foxwoods has proposed a $1 billion, 660,000-square-foot resort-style casino at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 16 in Milford.
Ziemba said, though, that the commission should endeavor to ensure that all communities near potential casino sites talk to the applicants. He suggested the commission send a letter to that effect.
"What we'd like to do is communicate with the communities, to let them know who the contact people at these facilities are," he said. "It's very difficult to make decisions about who to send this notice to."
Ziemba said, to alleviate confusion, any letter sent out should make clear that communities receiving the letter have not necessarily been designated as surrounding communities.
Commissioner Enrique Zuniga suggested the commission ask the Massachusetts Municipal Association for assistance.
"They can notify their membership - that's as over-inclusive as it gets," he said.
Ziemba said he feared such a wide dispersal of applicant contact information could swamp those applicants with unnecessary calls.
Crosby said he believed that a properly crafted letter could keep that from happening.
"I would be in favor of drafting a letter so there would be minimal misunderstandings," he said. "I encourage you to go ahead, but to be as clear as possible."
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x369947095/Milford-casino-Gaming-Commission-talks-surrounding-community-outreach
In a conversation during last Friday's commission meeting about notifying communities near casino applicants, Chairman Stephen Crosby said surrounding community approval would be considered by the commission.
"If an applicant comes in with a whole bunch of unresolved communities in need of arbitration, we can say that's not very satisfactory," he said. "If they come in with it buttoned up, that's a measure of community support for the project."
Commission Ombudsman John Ziemba gave a report about outreach to surrounding communities at the meeting, speaking about the efforts of each applicant.
"Even though this is a short timetable, we believe the communities most likely to be impacted know they're likely to be impacted," he said.
Ziemba's report noted that the Milford applicant, Foxwoods, had reached agreement with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to study impacts on surrounding communities. Foxwoods has proposed a $1 billion, 660,000-square-foot resort-style casino at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 16 in Milford.
Ziemba said, though, that the commission should endeavor to ensure that all communities near potential casino sites talk to the applicants. He suggested the commission send a letter to that effect.
"What we'd like to do is communicate with the communities, to let them know who the contact people at these facilities are," he said. "It's very difficult to make decisions about who to send this notice to."
Ziemba said, to alleviate confusion, any letter sent out should make clear that communities receiving the letter have not necessarily been designated as surrounding communities.
Commissioner Enrique Zuniga suggested the commission ask the Massachusetts Municipal Association for assistance.
"They can notify their membership - that's as over-inclusive as it gets," he said.
Ziemba said he feared such a wide dispersal of applicant contact information could swamp those applicants with unnecessary calls.
Crosby said he believed that a properly crafted letter could keep that from happening.
"I would be in favor of drafting a letter so there would be minimal misunderstandings," he said. "I encourage you to go ahead, but to be as clear as possible."
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x369947095/Milford-casino-Gaming-Commission-talks-surrounding-community-outreach
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