WINDSOR LOCKS — A new board of selectmen was sworn into office Tuesday night and quickly laid out a plan — which will be based on residents' approval and culminate in a townwide referendum — on how to move forward with the possible development of a casino in town.
The board approved entering into negotiations with the state's two existing casinos, who want to build a third facility in the state, but added three stipulations: At a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 15, residents must indicate their approval for a casino, and spell out some of the conditions that need to be met; the board would review a detailed development agreement from the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans' joint venture MMCT and present that for residents' approval at a selectmen's meeting; after the meeting, the plan would be subject to a townwide referendum.
Just over two weeks ago, two separate casino proposals from the Connecticut Airport Authority and Sportech Venues were submitted to MMCT. The Connecticut Airport Authority submitted plans for a casino at Bradley International Airport. Sportech Venues' managing director Ted Taylor has said his company, which operates a betting parlor in the same building as Bobby V's Restaurant and Sports Bar, is open to collaborate with proposed plans for a casino at Bradley Airport.
Windsor Locks has not endorsed either of these plans, a necessary step for MMCT to move forward.
East Hartford, East Windsor and Hartford also submitted proposals to MMCT.Selectwoman Denise Balboni, a Republican, agreed that resident feedback was necessary. Though she said she doesn't favor a casino, she said she didn't think the board of selectmen "should make a decision independent of the townpeople's having an opportunity to join in.""I have not personally formed an opinion as to whether formation of a casino is a good idea or a bad idea," First Selectman J. Christopher Kervick said. "And the reason is, we don't have enough information, not just the general concept of the casino but without mincing words, what's in it for us? What's in it for the town of Windsor Locks?"Only a few residents spoke Tuesday night.Michael Bracken Jr. said the airport wasn't a place for a casino, while John Kriedel said it would be a "win-win" for Windsor Locks. After the meeting, lifelong resident Kimberly Pease said she was undecided and wanted more information.William Rousseau, a retired Windsor Locks police officer, said it was a "quality of life issue" that would "change the character of Windsor Locks forever." Rousseau also cited the problems with heroin and prostitution that police are now combating."We don't need to invite people into our town that are going to increase the flow of drugs, we don't need people who will rent out our rooms for prostitution," Rousseau said.The Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans, through MMCT, solicited proposals from Connecticut towns in October, with a goal of building a third casino in the state to compete with one being built in Springfield by MGM. The tribes want to move quickly, aiming to open a year or more before the MGM casino.Representatives from Hartford-based Global Strategy Group, which works with MGM, had printed pamphlets and laid them out on gallery seats.Peggy Atherlay, Global Strategy's communications director, said they attended the meeting to make sure residents were aware and would start to ask questions about the development plans.On Tuesday, according to an MMCT news release, letters were sent out "urging" officials in East Hartford, East Windsor, Hartford and Windsor Locks to move forward with town approval. The letters also said that MMCT will "compensate" towns that choose to hold a referendum."… In recognition of the partnership we intend to have with any host community, we want you to know that should you choose to conduct a referendum on this project, MMCT will compensate the town for the expenses associated with that process," the letter reads.MMCT has said it anticipates deciding where the next casino would be located by Dec.15 — in time to submit it for legislative approval in next year's session.In late October, the Windsor Locks Board of Selectmen declined to vote on a plan, partly because two of the three selectmen were not seeking re-election, and they didn't want to make a decision that another board would have to carry out.This spring, state lawmakers created a process for the tribes to select a host community and developer for the new joint venture.| < Prev | Next > |
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