Bruins win out over slots
Latest Plainridge forum takes second billing to playoffs
Posted: Thursday, June 20, 2013 2:18 am
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
The Sun Chronicle
PLAINVILLE - Slot machines at Plainridge Racecourse is the hottest issue to hit Plainville in years, but not even it can compete with the Boston Bruins for attention.
The town's gambling consultant held its third public forum on the prospect of expanded gambling at the harness track Wednesday, and only 34 people showed up.
Most of those at the Wood School were town officials, Plainridge representatives and consultants.
Only a few private citizens attended.
Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes speculated the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship game against the Chicago Blackhawks might have been the reason for the low attendance.
Another reason might be residents have heard enough. The consultant has now held three forums, the track has held one and the state Gaming Commission held another. Previous forums attracted much larger crowds.
Although the audience was small, it was curious. Residents asked a number of questions of consultant Will Cummings and Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein.
Selectmen are negotiating a "host community agreement" with Plainridge on how it might compensate the the town for allowing it to add 1,250 slot machines and a $125 million gaming facility to its track, and many of the questions and comments were concentrated on the agreement.
Resident Dan Campbell asked if fees paid by the track to Plainville would first go through the state.
Cummings said the agreement would call for Plainridge writing a check directly to the town.
Selectmen have not said how much compensation they are looking for, but Raynham Park has agreed to pay the Town of Raynham $1.1 million in fees if it gets the sole slot machine license available from the state.
Resident Ellen DeAngelis noted that Plainridge has said it would give preference to Plainville citizens for jobs. She asked if it could be required in the agreement that a percentage of all level of jobs go to town residents, and not just the low-level positions.
Cummings said it would be difficult to stipulate that in an agreement, but he anticipates slot machines would create more jobs than Plainville residents could fill.
The track anticipates 400 jobs.
Town Moderator Andrew Martin asked if the host agreement could stay in effect longer than the five-year license the state would issue. Martin said it would.
Another resident asked if the host agreement could be altered by townspeople before they vote on whether to ratify it.
Fernandes said the agreement would be a binding contract, and voters would only be allowed to approve it or reject it.
Selectman Rob Rose, Fernandes, Cummings and Silverstein are negotiating the agreement for the town.
Amazing!
Fernandes said the negotiators would be seeking a certain amount of money to mitigate the expanded gambling, and town meeting would decide how that money is spent.
Cummings showed a number of graphs to explain where slot machine revenue would go.
From 85 to 92 percent would go back to slot machine players as winnings, he said.
Of the remainder, he said 40 percent goes to the state, another 9 percent goes toward increasing purses at racetracks, 29 percent would go toward operating expenses, 22 percent would go toward earnings, debt payments, income taxes and depreciation.
The amount going to the town must be negotiated.
Cummings said the anticipation is that negotiations would be concluded by June 30, and a referendum would be held about Sept. 10.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/bruins-win-out-over-slots/article_c51754d5-ac6f-5f22-ba08-7df943244020.html
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
The Sun Chronicle
PLAINVILLE - Slot machines at Plainridge Racecourse is the hottest issue to hit Plainville in years, but not even it can compete with the Boston Bruins for attention.
The town's gambling consultant held its third public forum on the prospect of expanded gambling at the harness track Wednesday, and only 34 people showed up.
Most of those at the Wood School were town officials, Plainridge representatives and consultants.
Only a few private citizens attended.
Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes speculated the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship game against the Chicago Blackhawks might have been the reason for the low attendance.
Another reason might be residents have heard enough. The consultant has now held three forums, the track has held one and the state Gaming Commission held another. Previous forums attracted much larger crowds.
Although the audience was small, it was curious. Residents asked a number of questions of consultant Will Cummings and Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein.
Selectmen are negotiating a "host community agreement" with Plainridge on how it might compensate the the town for allowing it to add 1,250 slot machines and a $125 million gaming facility to its track, and many of the questions and comments were concentrated on the agreement.
Resident Dan Campbell asked if fees paid by the track to Plainville would first go through the state.
Cummings said the agreement would call for Plainridge writing a check directly to the town.
Selectmen have not said how much compensation they are looking for, but Raynham Park has agreed to pay the Town of Raynham $1.1 million in fees if it gets the sole slot machine license available from the state.
Resident Ellen DeAngelis noted that Plainridge has said it would give preference to Plainville citizens for jobs. She asked if it could be required in the agreement that a percentage of all level of jobs go to town residents, and not just the low-level positions.
Cummings said it would be difficult to stipulate that in an agreement, but he anticipates slot machines would create more jobs than Plainville residents could fill.
The track anticipates 400 jobs.
Town Moderator Andrew Martin asked if the host agreement could stay in effect longer than the five-year license the state would issue. Martin said it would.
Another resident asked if the host agreement could be altered by townspeople before they vote on whether to ratify it.
Fernandes said the agreement would be a binding contract, and voters would only be allowed to approve it or reject it.
Selectman Rob Rose, Fernandes, Cummings and Silverstein are negotiating the agreement for the town.
Amazing!
Fernandes said the negotiators would be seeking a certain amount of money to mitigate the expanded gambling, and town meeting would decide how that money is spent.
Cummings showed a number of graphs to explain where slot machine revenue would go.
From 85 to 92 percent would go back to slot machine players as winnings, he said.
Of the remainder, he said 40 percent goes to the state, another 9 percent goes toward increasing purses at racetracks, 29 percent would go toward operating expenses, 22 percent would go toward earnings, debt payments, income taxes and depreciation.
The amount going to the town must be negotiated.
Cummings said the anticipation is that negotiations would be concluded by June 30, and a referendum would be held about Sept. 10.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/bruins-win-out-over-slots/article_c51754d5-ac6f-5f22-ba08-7df943244020.html
Follow-up - Forum was on the Town website:
I just sent this to the Sun Chronicle:
Apparently the Plainville Gambling Consultants forum was posted on the Plainville website in the "News and Announcements" section — not a place any of us thought to look for a posted meeting. Still, it was buried in the website, and so I stand corrected. You should disregard my previous letter to the editor.
Thanks.
Mary-Ann Greanier
I just sent this to the Sun Chronicle:
Apparently the Plainville Gambling Consultants forum was posted on the Plainville website in the "News and Announcements" section — not a place any of us thought to look for a posted meeting. Still, it was buried in the website, and so I stand corrected. You should disregard my previous letter to the editor.
Thanks.
Mary-Ann Greanier
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