Milford casino: Additional money sought by selectmen
MILFORD —
In considering a first draft of the host community agreement with the proposed casino developer, Selectmen have identified several areas where they will be asking for more money.
Selectmen on Monday discussed a draft of the agreement released a little over a week ago out of initial negotiations between the town’s attorneys and Foxwoods, the developers proposing a $1 billion, 660,000-square-foot resort-casino at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 16.
The draft included an estimate of an $18 million tax payment and promises of initial payments of nearly $2 million, annual payments of about $2.8 million and improvements to traffic, water and sewer that Foxwoods had promised to cover during its informational meetings with residents last month.
Board of Selectmen Chairman William Buckley said he wanted to see a higher base tax payment to the town.
“I want Everett money,” Buckley said repeatedly. “Everett is getting $30 million and I don’t know why we’re getting less.”
Buckley also called for any amount previously promised by Foxwoods in advertisements or presentations to be met in the host community agreement.
The initial and annual payments outlined in the draft included funding to police, fire and school departments, but Selectmen heard memos from other town departments asking for an additional $1 million initial payment and $1 million initial annual payment.
Following a recent memo from the Department of Education, the Selectmen also requested attorneys ask for an additional $2.5 million to $3 million to make up for Chapter 70 funds that
would be lost with the new revenue from the casino.
Town attorneys said they were still calculating the loss in state aid and should have that number this week.
Frank Saba, President of Milford Regional Medical Center, also sent a memo requesting mitigation funds to cover a potential increase in emergency calls at an initial payment of $7.4 million and $2.4 million in subsequent years.
“I’d like to see the hospital dollars in there because that’s a vital aspect in this community,” Buckley said.
Buckley also requested more protection for the neighbors of the casino, including buffers and an escrow account to cover property value loss, a stronger commitment to hiring locally than just “best efforts” and more promises that the developers will work to increase the town’s water permit.
Town Counsel Gerald Moody said that intense negotiations are expected to take place over the next week.
“That’s where they are now, but this is a very first draft and we’re not done yet,” Moody said.
A meeting was scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. for Selectmen to discuss a second draft of the host community agreement.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1655330058/Milford-casino-Additional-money-sought-by-selectmen
In considering a first draft of the host community agreement with the proposed casino developer, Selectmen have identified several areas where they will be asking for more money.
Selectmen on Monday discussed a draft of the agreement released a little over a week ago out of initial negotiations between the town’s attorneys and Foxwoods, the developers proposing a $1 billion, 660,000-square-foot resort-casino at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 16.
The draft included an estimate of an $18 million tax payment and promises of initial payments of nearly $2 million, annual payments of about $2.8 million and improvements to traffic, water and sewer that Foxwoods had promised to cover during its informational meetings with residents last month.
Board of Selectmen Chairman William Buckley said he wanted to see a higher base tax payment to the town.
“I want Everett money,” Buckley said repeatedly. “Everett is getting $30 million and I don’t know why we’re getting less.”
Buckley also called for any amount previously promised by Foxwoods in advertisements or presentations to be met in the host community agreement.
The initial and annual payments outlined in the draft included funding to police, fire and school departments, but Selectmen heard memos from other town departments asking for an additional $1 million initial payment and $1 million initial annual payment.
Following a recent memo from the Department of Education, the Selectmen also requested attorneys ask for an additional $2.5 million to $3 million to make up for Chapter 70 funds that
would be lost with the new revenue from the casino.
Town attorneys said they were still calculating the loss in state aid and should have that number this week.
Frank Saba, President of Milford Regional Medical Center, also sent a memo requesting mitigation funds to cover a potential increase in emergency calls at an initial payment of $7.4 million and $2.4 million in subsequent years.
“I’d like to see the hospital dollars in there because that’s a vital aspect in this community,” Buckley said.
Buckley also requested more protection for the neighbors of the casino, including buffers and an escrow account to cover property value loss, a stronger commitment to hiring locally than just “best efforts” and more promises that the developers will work to increase the town’s water permit.
Town Counsel Gerald Moody said that intense negotiations are expected to take place over the next week.
“That’s where they are now, but this is a very first draft and we’re not done yet,” Moody said.
A meeting was scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. for Selectmen to discuss a second draft of the host community agreement.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1655330058/Milford-casino-Additional-money-sought-by-selectmen
Selectmen on Monday discussed a draft of the agreement released a little over a week ago out of initial negotiations between the town’s attorneys and Foxwoods, the developers proposing a $1 billion, 660,000-square-foot resort-casino at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 16.
The draft included an estimate of an $18 million tax payment and promises of initial payments of nearly $2 million, annual payments of about $2.8 million and improvements to traffic, water and sewer that Foxwoods had promised to cover during its informational meetings with residents last month.
Board of Selectmen Chairman William Buckley said he wanted to see a higher base tax payment to the town.
“I want Everett money,” Buckley said repeatedly. “Everett is getting $30 million and I don’t know why we’re getting less.”
Buckley also called for any amount previously promised by Foxwoods in advertisements or presentations to be met in the host community agreement.
The initial and annual payments outlined in the draft included funding to police, fire and school departments, but Selectmen heard memos from other town departments asking for an additional $1 million initial payment and $1 million initial annual payment.
Following a recent memo from the Department of Education, the Selectmen also requested attorneys ask for an additional $2.5 million to $3 million to make up for Chapter 70 funds that
would be lost with the new revenue from the casino.
Town attorneys said they were still calculating the loss in state aid and should have that number this week.
Frank Saba, President of Milford Regional Medical Center, also sent a memo requesting mitigation funds to cover a potential increase in emergency calls at an initial payment of $7.4 million and $2.4 million in subsequent years.
“I’d like to see the hospital dollars in there because that’s a vital aspect in this community,” Buckley said.
Buckley also requested more protection for the neighbors of the casino, including buffers and an escrow account to cover property value loss, a stronger commitment to hiring locally than just “best efforts” and more promises that the developers will work to increase the town’s water permit.
Town Counsel Gerald Moody said that intense negotiations are expected to take place over the next week.
“That’s where they are now, but this is a very first draft and we’re not done yet,” Moody said.
A meeting was scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. for Selectmen to discuss a second draft of the host community agreement.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1655330058/Milford-casino-Additional-money-sought-by-selectmen
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