Herald: Gaming Commission meets behind close doors regularly
The Boston Herald reports the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has spent more than 100 hours in meetings that were kept from the public. "A Herald review of more than 1,000 pages of the commissioners' individual public calendars dating back to 2012 uncovered questionable ways the commission has been able to meet in full, despite the strict requirements of the state's Open Meeting Law preventing 'deliberation' in private," writes Chris Cassidy of the Boston Herald. Some of that time is spent at weekly "commissioners' lunches" where no records are kept on the topics.http://bit.ly/1RfHS2g

Gaming Commission playing games with open meeting rules

Photo by: 

Ted Fitzgerald

PRIVATE EYES: Gaming commissioner Bruce Stebbins had a calendar entry suggesting some ‘deliberation’ was done in private.

Monday, July 6, 2015

By:

Chris Cassidy

The state’s Gaming Commission has spent more than 100 hours in secret meetings that were off-limits to the public — including “agenda-planning” sessions, weekly “commissioners’ lunches,” and at least one 90-minute conference with the gambling industry’s former top lobbyist, a Herald record review found.

A Herald review of more than 1,000 pages of the commissioners’ individual public calendars dating back to 2012 uncovered questionable ways the commission has been able to meet in full, despite the strict requirements of the state’s Open Meeting Law preventing “deliberation” in private.

Weekly “commissioners’ lunches” inside the body’s downtown Boston office — lasting between one and two hours — began in July 2013 and are still held each Wednesday. No records are kept on the topics, and the lunches are closed to the public, according to spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll.

“Commissioners discuss social matters, organizational structure and morale,” Driscoll said. “The commissioners do not discuss any matter that constitutes public business within the jurisdiction of the commission.”

But former Inspector General Greg Sullivan of the Pioneer Institute said he found that hard to believe.

“You can only talk about Tom Brady and ‘Deflategate’ for so long,” Sullivan told the Herald. “Eventually, the conversation probably drifts around to the subject of Massachusetts gaming.”

At least one commissioners’ lunch even featured a special guest — Frank Fahrenkopf, who had stepped down as president of the American Gaming Association one year before he met for 90 minutes with the MGC on Oct. 22, 2014.

Asked why that meeting had to be conducted in private, Driscoll said it was a “training session,” which is allowed under the Open Meeting Law, “to provide his perspective ... on the overall international status of the gaming and racing industry.”

The MGC also holds private “agenda-planning meetings” for up to two hours every other Wednesday.

They often immediately follow the lunches, putting the commission in combined private meetings together for nearly four hours at a time.

Driscoll said commissioners don’t deliberate during the “agenda-planning meetings,” which are also attended by director-level staffers, but “discuss the upcoming public meeting agenda” and materials needed for commissioners’ packets before the public meeting the following week.

Driscoll provided the Herald with a sample “draft agenda” and a “to-do list” that helps staff compile the agenda.

While the commission insists deliberations are conducted and decisions are made only in public meetings, Commissioner Bruce Stebbins had a one-hour entry on his calendar on Sept. 17, 2014 — the day after the Commission awarded a casino license to Wynn Resorts — with the subject line “Conference Call — MGC.”

“I was hoping we could strategize and discuss some critical topics in light of yesterday’s license decision,” Stebbins’ entry stated.

Driscoll told the Herald: “Commissioner Stebbins cannot recall if that conference call actually happened.”

She said “his intent was to have an agenda-setting conversation” with staff and “possibly” Commissioner Gayle Cameron about the future of racing and the employees at losing bidder Suffolk Downs.

The MGC also held a few “commissioner dinners” in late 2012 and early 2013, the calendars show.

Sullivan told the Herald the Gaming Commission’s structure — where the commissioners all work out of the same office — is a problem.

“It’s vulnerable to violations of the Open Meeting Law because of the design of the agency and the decisions the Legislature made,” said Sullivan. “It’s an inherently problematic situation because of the extremely unusual arrangement whereby the commissioners are full-time employees that work in the same building.”

Some of the datebook information the Herald requested could not be produced.

Stebbins’ calendar from March 2012 through the end of 2013 was “unavailable due to technical issues caused by his BlackBerry,” the MGC told the Herald.

Driscoll insisted the commission has acted within the law and has held 156 public meetings since 2012 — all of which require prep work.

“The commissioners never discuss or deliberate on any matter of public business which is, has or could be before the commission,” Driscoll said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/07/gaming_commission_playing_games_with_open_meeting_rules

Let me count the ways the Massachusetts Gambling Commission has failed you.....

Massachusetts Gaming Commission drops proposed rule prohibiting elected host community officials from putting down a bet


State House News Service By State House News Servicemasslive.com
on May 28, 2015 at 8:51 PM

Casinos

• Connecticut legislature approves process to consider new tribal casino; state wary of expected competition from MGM Springfield
• Massachusetts Gaming Commission drops proposed rule prohibiting elected host community officials from putting down a bet
• Site work ramps up as MGM Springfield casino nears groundbreaking
• Boston Mayor Marty Walsh ups ante with city's lawsuit over Wynn Everett casino
• Candor marks Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno: Viewpoint (video)

By GINTAUTAS DUMCIUS
BOSTON — State gambling regulators on Thursday voted to abandon a proposed rule prohibiting municipal elected officials in a community hosting a gaming facility from placing a wager.

Members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, however, appeared open to revisiting the topic and said they were interested in exploring restrictions on elected officials receiving free play, credit, or comps, such as a free meal or drink, at a gambling facility.

Commissioner James McHugh said cities and towns are "perfectly capable" of handling the matter of whether an elected official should be allowed to place a wager in their casino or slot parlor. "They understand a lot more, they're a lot closer to the ground," he said.


Commissioner McHugh nodded agreement to Frank Fahrenkopf's propaganda.
A curious sight!

But Commissioner Bruce Stebbins, a former Springfield city councilor who was the lone vote against deleting the proposed regulation, said the rule would help the commission, casino licensees and local officials avoid potential "headaches."

"I'm in favor of keeping this in there as kind of just a preventative and protective measure for all of us involved," Stebbins said.

The provision, which would have allowed elected officials to be present in a gambling facility, was originally included as part of proposed regulations laying out who could be excluded from a gambling establishment.

After voting 4-1 to drop the provision, commissioners approved the rest of the regulations.

"There's so many other rules. There's laws, there's ethics commission rules, there's local rules, so if we're going to do anything we want to be sure we fit in with everything else that's already going on, with the topic," Gaming Commission chair Stephen Crosby said after the vote.

"I'm uncomfortable sort of intimating that maybe we're suspicious that municipal officials might be doing something," he added.

Todd Grossman, the commission's deputy general counsel, said he could not find other instances of such a rule elsewhere in the United States.

Grossman acknowledged the potential perception issues that could arise if wagering local elected officials, such as a mayor or a selectman, were to hit a jackpot and "what the general public may think about that."

Offering his personal opinion to the commission, Grossman said the issue could be left up to each host community to determine.

The town moderator of Plainville, Luke Travis, had criticized the wagering rule when it was first proposed, telling the commission it appeared to be a violation of constitutional rights.

If Luke Travis is an attorney, competent and qualified to comment on constitutional law, his name is not listed on the BBO Registration.

It does seem that Mr. Travis might be unaware of existing Ethics Statutes that already restrict the conduct of public officials.

The debate over who is allowed to wager, and who should be excluded, comes as Massachusetts nears the opening of its first gambling facility. A slots parlor in Plainville, near the Rhode Island-Massachusetts border, is scheduled to open June 24.

A 2011 law allows for the slot parlor and up to three resort casinos.

The Massachusetts state Lottery has been in place since 1972, set up to send local aid to cities and towns.

According to the state Lottery, the state statute prohibits any member or employee of the Lottery Commission, or their spouse, child, brother, sister, or parent residing as a member of their household from purchasing a ticket or receiving a prize.

The regulations approved by the commission on Thursday call for the five-member panel to maintain a list of people who should be "excluded or ejected" from a gaming establishment.

A person could be placed on the list if they have been convicted of a criminal offense punishable by more than six months of incarceration, a "crime of moral turpitude or a violation of the gaming laws of any state."

 A person with a "notorious or unsavory reputation which would adversely affect public confidence and trust that the gaming industry is free from criminal or corruptive elements" could also be placed on the list.


 http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/massachusetts_gaming_commissio_27.html 

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Gaming panel’s staff has ties to casino hopefuls

FROM SHNS:

THE DEALERS: Some of the staff of the Gaming Commission, including its
counsel, admin director and ombudsman, have ties to some of the developers
looking to be awarded licenses to build casinos here. The Herald reviewed disclosures from the
staffers to find that it's not just chairman Steve
Crosby who has ties with one of the casino suitors. Commissioner Bruce Stebbins
disclosed that he received campaign contributions from Springfield bigwigs Frank
Fitzgerald and Peter Picknelly when he was on the City Council. Both Picknelly
and Fitzgerald are now involved in developing a casino for
Springfield.

 

 

 

 

Ethics disclosures by Gaming Commission employees show an agency rife with potential conflicts that go far beyond the much-publicized ties of Chairman Stephen Crosby, with several staffers linked to people in the hunt for coveted gaming licenses.

The disclosures show the commission’s head lawyer, administrative director and ombudsman, as well as Commissioner Bruce Stebbins, have had business or social relationships with people involved with companies seeking licenses, a Herald review found.

“Circumstantially, it doesn’t look good, I’ll say that much,” said Boston College professor Richard McGowan, a gaming expert who advised City Hall in its now-defunct deal with Caesars and Suffolk Downs. Caesars was spiked after the commission flagged Caesars’ contracting of a company owned in part by a man with rumored Russian mob ties. “They knocked down Caesars from getting a license because they had some contact with a guy. You’re always going to have some kind of connections.”

Caesars has sued Crosby over his past partnership with Paul Lohnes, an owner of the site of a proposed Wynn casino in Everett. Crosby, who has also disclosed a college friendship with Suffolk Downs owner Joe O’Donnell, recused himself from a vote on Wynn’s land deal.

“The Commission strongly encourages all employees to use an overabundance of caution in filing ethics disclosures,” said commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll. “Our staff has been remarkably diligent in their efforts to demonstrate our strong commitment to integrity and transparency. As we soon progress from the licensing phase into the regulatory phase of our operations, the Commission will continue to apply those high standards and maintain strict adherence to our Enhanced Code of Ethics.”

Other commission employees with similar ties include:

•    Director of Administration Eileen Glovsky, who testified at the corruption trial of former probation chief Jack O’Brien that she managed a patronage hire list as deputy state treasurer. She divulged a 10-year relationship with a former treasury attorney who represents two license applicants, and that she and her husband once belonged to the same Belmont country club as O’Donnell, though she says she doesn’t believe she ever met him. In her May filing, she anticipated an event at which O’Donnell may greet her husband and wrote, “I wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding about this.”

•     General Counsel Catherine Blue, who disclosed that her daughter formerly worked at the Mintz Levin law firm under Peter Biagetti, who represents Wynn. (Mintz Levin also represents the Boston Herald.) “I do not and will not discuss my daughter with Mr. Biagetti,” Blue wrote in a March disclosure. As of June, Blue’s daughter was in the running for a job at Morgan Brown & Joy, a firm hired by the commission.

• Commissioner Stebbins, who disclosed receiving campaign contributions as a Springfield city councilor from Frank Fitzgerald, an attorney for MGM’s Springfield casino bid, and Peter Picknelly, an affiliate of the group behind the casino. “I don’t see anything that would preclude me or require me to recuse myself,” Stebbins told the Herald.

•     Ombudsman John Ziemba, who previously worked for a law firm that represents the Massachusetts Performing Arts Council, which he noted could receive mitigation money under the gaming law’s “impacted live entertainment venue” provision.

Mass Gam[bl]ing Commission Chair

Not near me, either. I guess we should put it on the ballot for a statewide vote since it is not and never has been a good fiscal or public policy. I mean schucks - Steve 's a good guy, a bright guy and he doesn't want it near him.

Of course not!

I wonder how Commissioner Stebbins is feeling about his property value declining by the day?

I spoke with someone who lives in his neighborhood recently and it is bad news.

Couldn't sell six months ago for a moderate/low price, can sell for dirt now.

Repeal it.

Another Gambling Commission Flub

If this had been disclosed upfront, few might have questioned the sincerity of intent.

Waiting until the eruption of the Stan McGee appointment and much else,  questions linger as well they should.

Political insiders, 6 figure taxpayer salaried employees were appointed to these posts.....maybe they're sincere. How far does that go?

view video --

Gaming Commission conflict of interest?: wwlp.com



Gaming Commission conflict of interest?

Springfield Commissioner to vote on WMass casino

Updated: Friday, 18 May 2012, 8:12 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 18 May 2012, 5:42 PM EDT

• Christine Lee, 22News State House Correspondent

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner from Springfield sees no need to recuse himself when it comes time to vote on a casino license in western Massachusetts, even though one of those proposals could land a resort in his hometown.

Commissioner Bruce Stebbins said he’s been cleared by state ethics officials to vote on a casino license in western Massachusetts despite his close ties to Springfield as a former City Councilor.

“They came back to me and said there really isn’t anything that they would see as a violation of the conflict of interest law in Massachusetts that would prohibit me from participating in the Commission’s work,” said Stebbins.

But some folks have doubts. Ameristar Casinos is proposing a casino resort in Springfield. Supporters of casino proposals elsewhere in western Massachusetts fear Stebbins may have a bias toward voting for a license in his hometown.

“I am concerned, I can’t say that I’m not,” said Jennifer Barufaldi of Citizens for Job Growth in Palmer. “We’re not from Springfield, our developer, of course, Mohegan Sun, we’re for Palmer, and I’m concerned. Is he truly going to be able to be objective?”

22 NEWS asked Stebbins if he wants a casino in Springfield. He said it depends on the proposals the Commission receives. He believes he can be an objective commissioner when it comes time for a vote.


“I’m a diligent, thoughtful, impartial person. I’ve brought that attitude and mentality to this Commission,” said Stebbins.

Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said he doubts commissioners will have to recuse themselves from a casino license vote just because there’s a proposal in their city or town.

A tentative timetable suggests the Commission may vote on a license next year or early 2014.

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/wwlp-gaming-commission-conflict-of-interest-cl

Nope! No Conflict Here!

Massachusetts gaming commissioner reveals he gave casino officials tour of Springfield

Published: Friday, May 18, 2012, 8:09 PM Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012, 8:10 PM

By Dan Ring, The RepublicanThe Republican

BOSTON — A member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission from Springfield on Friday disclosed that he gave two employees of a Pennsylvania casino company a tour of Springfield last year when he worked for the city, including driving them by an old manufacturing site now owned by a separate casino company.

Bruce Stebbins

Gaming commissioner Bruce W. Stebbins said the state Ethics Commission has advised him that he can have no contact with city of Springfield officials about the old Westinghouse site on Page Boulevard until a year has passed since he left his job as the city's business development manager.
Stebbins said he showed the former Westinghouse property to the two employees from Penn National Gaming in September of last year, a couple of months before Ameristar Casinos announced it intended to buy the property for a possible casino resort.

Stebbins said he mentioned the tour with the Pennsylvania casino company when he was interviewed for his five-year appointment to the Gaming Commission, a new state agency created to license and oversee casinos. Stebbins said he also told the Ethics Commission about his contact with Penn National.

"That's the only contact I ever had," with a casino company while working for Springfield, Stebbins said.

Stebbins said the tour should not affect his ability to vote on the Western Massachusetts license for a casino, even if Penn National applies for a license.

The state's casino law, signed in November by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, authorizes the commission to approve up to three casino resorts in different areas of the state including one for Western Massachusetts.

Stebbins said he went on "a quick windshield tour of Springfield" with Brian M. Connors, deputy director of economic development for Springfield, and two Penn National officials who had asked for the tour. They saw the riverfront, the downtown and the 41-acre Westinghouse site on Page Boulevard purchased by Ameristar for $16 million in January.

Stebbins and Troy Stremming, a senior vice president for Ameristar, both said that Stebbins has never met with officials of Las Vegas-based Ameristar.

"No one from our company has met with him," Stremming said Friday. "I want to assure you it was not Ameristar."

Penn National has talked about a possible casino resort for Western Massachusetts, but so far has unveiled no plans for a casino in the region.

In the only other casino proposal announced for Western Massachusetts, the Mohegan Sun is planning a resort on about 150 acres in Palmer off Exit 8 on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Stebbins was among the final two members of the commission who were selected jointly by Patrick, Attorney General Martha M. Coakley and Treasurer Steven Grossman.

Stebbins said he has been cleared to vote on a Western Massachusetts casino license by the Ethics Commission, as long as he discloses his intent to vote on a Springfield issue such as awarding a license in Western Massachusetts.

Stebbins on Tuesday said he requested an opinion from the state Ethics Commission, partly because he had been working as a business development manager for the city and would need to make decisions on the commission that could impact his former employer.

Stebbins, a former two-term member of the Springfield City Council and city employee, has faced some criticism that he might be biased in favor of a casino for Springfield in a possible competition for the single casino license that could be available in Western Massachusetts.

Stebbins has said he will be impartial and diligent if he votes on a casino license for Western Massachusetts.

But Stebbins said he does not know at this point about whether he would be allowed to vote on the Western Massachusetts casino license. Under the state's gaming law, the commission must establish a code of ethics that is tougher than key chapters in the state's conflict of interest laws and that ethics code could exclude him from participating in the Western Massachusetts vote.

Before being appointed to the commission in March, Stebbins had worked as a development manager for the City of Springfield since September of 2010 and had previously served on the city council.
Stephen P. Crosby, the chairman of the commission, receives $150,000 a year for the full-time job. Stebbins and the other three commissioners — Gayle Cameron, James F. McHugh and Enrique A. Zuniga — receive $112,500 and also work full time.


http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/massachusetts_gaming_commissio_8.html