5.15.07Middleboro OKs referendum on casino
By STEPHANIE VOSK
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLEBORO — Voters will have the chance to say whether they want a casino in town, but the question will be nonbinding and it has yet to be determined when it will appear on a ballot.
The Middleboro Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last night to present the referendum as soon as possible.
"I think that we can only benefit as a town from that," said Terry Tolosko, a town resident and casino opponent, one of dozens who packed into the selectmen's meeting room. "If people hear the negatives and they hear the positives, let them decide."
Middleboro residents began demanding information from town officials after news spread that a financial backer for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe purchased 125 acres from the town at an auction last month.
The tribe, which is expected to be officially recognized by the federal government May 23 and eligible to put land into trust for gaming purposes, has expressed its interest in building a large-scale casino in Middleboro.
In addition to the 125 acres off Precinct Street, the tribe has taken out an option to buy 200 more acres adjacent to the property.
The tribe is not set on building the casino in Middleboro, however, spokesman Scott Ferson has said.
But Middleboro Town Manager John Healey said last week the town plans to start negotiating with the tribe.
The selectmen also voted last night to meet with tribal leaders next week.
Though the five-member board supports the casino, Selectman Adam Bond told his fellow selectmen last night that to exclude the population of Middleboro from "the single most earth-shattering change in the town in an awfully long time" would be to "simply throw away our obligation to the people who put us in here."
Bond, who was the first to bring up the referendum, originally asked that a special election be held in three months, but he amended his motion when it became unclear whether that would be possible.
The town clerk indicated to other town officials yesterday that a referendum question can appear on the ballot only at the annual town election, the officials said.
Middleboro held its annual election in April.
But another election may be coming this summer, if residents have anything to say about it.
Petitions are circulating around town to recall three of the five selectmen, according to several residents.
Alleged financial mismanagement is part of the reason residents are looking to recall chairwoman Marsha Brunelle and Selectmen Wayne Perkins and Steven Spataro, former Selectman Steve Morris said.
The last straw came when the selectmen directed the town manager to assess the tribe's interest in a casino without talking to residents, Morris said.
"I'm more upset about the process than anything," he said after last night's meeting. "We've never had a hearing, we've never had a discussion, we didn't get it tonight either."
Members of the public were not allowed to make any comments during the referendum talks.
Opponents of the casino, however, have formed their own group in which to talk.
News and information are posted on the group's Web site, CasinoFacts.org.
Stephanie Vosk can be reached at svosk@capecodonline.com.
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLEBORO — Voters will have the chance to say whether they want a casino in town, but the question will be nonbinding and it has yet to be determined when it will appear on a ballot.
The Middleboro Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last night to present the referendum as soon as possible.
"I think that we can only benefit as a town from that," said Terry Tolosko, a town resident and casino opponent, one of dozens who packed into the selectmen's meeting room. "If people hear the negatives and they hear the positives, let them decide."
Middleboro residents began demanding information from town officials after news spread that a financial backer for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe purchased 125 acres from the town at an auction last month.
The tribe, which is expected to be officially recognized by the federal government May 23 and eligible to put land into trust for gaming purposes, has expressed its interest in building a large-scale casino in Middleboro.
In addition to the 125 acres off Precinct Street, the tribe has taken out an option to buy 200 more acres adjacent to the property.
The tribe is not set on building the casino in Middleboro, however, spokesman Scott Ferson has said.
But Middleboro Town Manager John Healey said last week the town plans to start negotiating with the tribe.
The selectmen also voted last night to meet with tribal leaders next week.
Though the five-member board supports the casino, Selectman Adam Bond told his fellow selectmen last night that to exclude the population of Middleboro from "the single most earth-shattering change in the town in an awfully long time" would be to "simply throw away our obligation to the people who put us in here."
Bond, who was the first to bring up the referendum, originally asked that a special election be held in three months, but he amended his motion when it became unclear whether that would be possible.
The town clerk indicated to other town officials yesterday that a referendum question can appear on the ballot only at the annual town election, the officials said.
Middleboro held its annual election in April.
But another election may be coming this summer, if residents have anything to say about it.
Petitions are circulating around town to recall three of the five selectmen, according to several residents.
Alleged financial mismanagement is part of the reason residents are looking to recall chairwoman Marsha Brunelle and Selectmen Wayne Perkins and Steven Spataro, former Selectman Steve Morris said.
The last straw came when the selectmen directed the town manager to assess the tribe's interest in a casino without talking to residents, Morris said.
"I'm more upset about the process than anything," he said after last night's meeting. "We've never had a hearing, we've never had a discussion, we didn't get it tonight either."
Members of the public were not allowed to make any comments during the referendum talks.
Opponents of the casino, however, have formed their own group in which to talk.
News and information are posted on the group's Web site, CasinoFacts.org.
Stephanie Vosk can be reached at svosk@capecodonline.com.
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