ToCasino.net Online Casino

MILFORD — Selectmen voted Monday night to enter into formal negotiations with Foxwoods Massachusetts for an agreement that would include legal protections for the town as plans for the proposed $1 billion resort casino off Interstate 495 move forward.

The vote followed a month of informational meetings covering a range of potential problems — including an increase in traffic, the question of whether the town’s water reserves could support a casino, sewer adequacy, and environmental and social issues — that Selectmen Brian Murray and Dino DeBartolomeis said gave them enough information to proceed.

“We have a framework to work around,” Murray said. “To me, this agreement will be about the nuts and bolts of the issues. If it’s viable, it’ll be done.”

Board chairman William Buckley, who publicly opposed the casino from the start, voted against moving forward because, he said, he did not have enough information.

“From a personal standpoint, I am disappointed by what was provided,” he said. “The environmental impact was woefully inadequate, traffic I don’t buy for a second, [and] I’m concerned about water.”

Murray and DeBartolomeis said the process of holding public meetings with representatives from Foxwoods, consultants for the town hired by the developer, and town department heads allowed the community to become well informed.

“We’ve talked about everything,” DeBartolomeis said. “The process has been fair.”

Informal negotiations between Foxwoods and Town Counsel Gerald M. Moody have already begun, Murray said, but will intensify with a goal of having a draft agreement back before selectmen within two to three weeks and a vote by the end of the month.

If a host agreement is successfully negotiated, a town referendum would be held in November, and Town Meeting would need to rezone the land.

The Milford proposal’s suburban location contrasts with the other two proposals competing for the sole Greater Boston casino resort license to be granted by the state Gaming Commission next year.

Voters in Everett have endorsed plans by Wynn Resorts to build a casino on the Mystic River waterfront, and Caesars Entertainment is proposing a casino at the horse track in East Boston.

“We have been working hard with the town’s officials and consultants to bring Milford a resort casino that reflects the unique nature of the community, and look forward to building on our discussions as we enter this next phase of the process,” Scott Butera, Foxwoods president, said in e-mail.

The chief development officer for the project, David Nunes, said after the meeting he was “very pleased,” but cautioned against moving ahead too quickly. “This doesn’t guarantee there will be a host agreement,” he said. “As in any negotiations, it’s a give-and-take.”

Members of Casino Free Milford asked selectmen to stop the negotiations, but after the vote, vowed to continue fighting against the casino, which is proposed for 187 acres off Route 16 and Interstate 495 on the east side of town.

“We’re going to continue to dog the issues, stay engaged, and make sure all issues we’ve raised be addressed,” said the group’s cochairman, John Seaver. “We’re going to fight this casino.”