Living out a dream
Gerry Tuoti, Staff Writer
Jul 28, 2007 at 12:01 AM Jul 28, 2007 at 4:30 PM
Now that the Mashpee Wampanoags' tribal council has unanimously approved a proposal for the tribe to fund $250 million of infrastructure improvements and send $11 million a year to Middleboro in exchange for locating a 1,500-room resort casino there, the deal's fate hinges on the town meeting vote today
Now that the Mashpee Wampanoags' tribal council has unanimously approved a proposal for the tribe to fund $250 million of infrastructure improvements and send $11 million a year to Middleboro in exchange for locating a 1,500-room resort casino there, the deal's fate hinges on the town meeting vote today.
The meeting warrant will ask voters three questions. The first article asks if the town will hear the report of its gambling study committee. The second asks the voters to authorize the selectmen to enter the agreement with the Mashpee. The third question, added to the warrant by a citizens' petition, asks if voters want a casino in town.
Town officials have issued more than 30 sets of press credentials and expect between 6,000 and 10,000 of the town's 14,652 registered voters to show up at the high school football field this morning for the town meeting. Among those in attendance will be several Mashpee Wampanoags who live in Middleboro. Only registered voters are allowed to attend.
The town meeting, which is costing the town $123,900, is being held outdoors because there is no building in the town of 20,000 that could accommodate the expected turn out.
The local and state police will handle security, and the fire department is responsible for emergency medical services.
The fire department will have three ambulances, a fire truck and an all-terrain six-wheeled vehicle on hand, as well as about a dozen safety personnel, Deputy Chief Scott Seifert said.
Since the town only has one ambulance, it is borrowing one from Lakeville and two from American Medical Response.
"The details of the pay haven't been worked out yet," Seifert said.
Even if the deal is not approved at the town meeting, the tribe — which now owns several hundred acres of land off Precinct Street, could still build a casino without a deal, according to town and tribal leaders. Some Middleboro residents opposed to the casino disagree, contending that a "no" vote would kill the proposal.
Scott Ferson, a spokesman for the tribe, said the Mashpee are "under no obligation" to compensate the town.
Selectman Adam Bond agrees with that interpretation.
"Which is worse?" he asked. "Having a casino come here with a deal, or having to wallow in economic hardship with no deal?"
Having very little local commercial tax base to chip into a $4 million structural deficit and rising fixed costs, Middleboro officials decided a casino could help the town generate revenue. They reached out to the Mashpee, who recently gained federal recognition, earlier this year.
In April, the Mashpee's financial backers purchased 125 acres off Precinct Street — which connects to Route 44 — for $1.765 million. They hold an option to purchase several hundred acres of adjacent land.
The tribe plans to build a $1 billion casino similar to Mohegan Sun in Montville, Conn. The investors, Len Wolman and Sol Kerzner, financed Mohegan Sun, Resorts International of Atlantic City, N.J., and Atlantis Resorts in Dubai and the Bahamas.
The Mashpee want to build a resort casino that offers many amenities besides gambling, including spas, shopping, restaurants and entertainment, Ferson said. This plan requires several hundred acres of land to create a buffer zone separating the resort from the rest of the town.
Southeastern Massachusetts is an ideal location for a large resort casino because of its proximity to several major highways, Ferson said.
Last year, Massachusetts residents made 6.9 million trips to Connecticut to gamble at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, spending nearly $800 million, according to a UMass-Dartmouth study. During the same period, Bay Staters also spent $190 million at Rhode Island's slot machine parlors, Twin River and Newport Grand.
"This region is a fertile market for a facility like this," Ferson said.
The Mashpee will likely need to get approval from Gov. Deval Patrick and the state Legislature before opening a full casino.
But, if they don't get the go-ahead from the state, they could still open a Class II gaming facility, such as a bingo slots parlor. Under such an agreement, the state would not be owed any percentage of the handle. Bingo slots operate similarly to standard slot machines except the gamers play against each other instead of the house. In Florida, the Seminole tribe operates a successful bingo slots parlor in Tampa.
Registration at the meeting will begin at 8 a.m., and the town moderator will call the meeting to order at 11.
Parking at the high school will be limited to the handicapped. Shuttle buses will begin running at 7:30 a.m. to take people to the field from Middleboro Park, the Ocean Spray corporate offices, Burkland School, Pierce Playground, Nichols School, Town Hall, the VFW hall, the former St. Luke's Hospital and Benny's Store.
gtuoti@tauntongazette.com