What's at stake Saturday
MIDDLEBOROUGH -- Barring unforeseen events, residents will converge Saturday on the high school ball fields to vote -- probably in record number -- on a measure that will shape the future of their rural town.
As many as 9,000 of the town's 14,300 registered voters are expected to attend the outdoor Special Town Meeting to vote on whether a casino should be built in town.
The first of the two ballot items authorizes selectmen to enter into an already-negotiated agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoag and their backers to build a casino complex.
The second item -- placed on the warrant by the casino opposition -- asks voters whether they want a casino built in town at all. While it is nonbinding, casino opponents hope a negative vote will show state and federal authorities that a casino is not welcome under any terms.
If a casino deal wins approval, a luxury gambling resort is likely to be built in town in about four years -- the state's first, and perhaps the nation's largest.
Saturday's Town Meeting is a first-of-its-kind event. It will be held under canopies erected on the town ball fields, with residents shuttled in from all over town. Entertainment will be offered for the voters who may be waiting as long as three hours for the meeting to begin. It is expected to last most of the day.
Here is a brief summary of what each vote means:
APPROVAL of the article authorizing the town to seal the pending deal means selectmen would then sign the multimillion-dollar package hammered out with the Mashpee Wampanoag last week. It gives the town about $11 million annually, $250 million in up-front infrastructure improvements, more police and fire personnel, as well as some cruisers and ambulances.
In return, selectmen will support the Mashpee Wampanoag in their bid to have the targeted casino site on Precinct Street placed into federal trust by the Department of the Interior. Selectmen also would urge Governor Deval Patrick to enter into a compact with the Wampanoag for the casino and to support the tribe when the state Legislature considers whether to allow expanded gambling in Massachusetts.
"The tribe would hope to put its federal application in for trust land within two months," said tribe spokesman Scott Ferson.
While the application itself is simple, the requirement for an exhaustive environmental review makes the process lengthy. There will be a period for public comment during the environmental impact study, Ferson said, but comments will be restricted to environmental issues. The process could take up to two years, but once the land is in sovereign trust, it is exempt from most state and local requirements.
Meanwhile, the tribe will apply to the state Highway Department for traffic improvements to Route 44 and the rotary. The application triggers another environmental review process, according to Ferson.
REJECTION of the request from selectmen to enter into the pending agreement with the tribe would mean both sides could go back to the negotiating table. But Ferson said that won't happen. "This is the richest deal there is," and it's not going to get any better, he said.
A rejection of the deal won't necessarily end plans for a casino in Middleborough. Technically the tribe does not have to make an agreement with the town because it already owns the land.
"Even if it's voted down, the tribe would still move ahead with its petition for trust land, since there is no requirement that there is an agreement with the town," Ferson said.
While the tribe could look elsewhere to build its casino, it "has a preference for Middleborough," he said.
Town Moderator James Thomas said voters should expect the secret-ballot vote authorizing selectmen to sign the casino agreement to take a few hours.
A voice for foes
The votes on the second question, whether a casino is welcome in town at all, whatever the terms, is a second place where committed foes can make their voice heard. But because it is nonbinding, the measure may have less immediate effect on events. No matter what the outcome of that vote, the tribe can move ahead with its casino plans.
APPROVAL of the nonbinding question on the wisdom of a casino would assure the tribe a smoother path as it moves to build it and would give advocates an additional edge in their public relations contest with foes. But it will not affect the timetable; the tribe will proceed at its own pace to win state and federal approval, although having the town's blessing would not hurt in that process.
REJECTION of the idea of a casino in town would send a message to state and federal officials who must act on other aspects of the tribe's casino proposal.
"This way, people get to actually vote on whether they want a casino, rather than just voting on a flawed agreement," said casino foe Richard Young. "This would send a message to the selectmen, and I think at least some of them would take it to heart. They could fight this. Other towns have fought and won."
Another casino foe, Jacqueline Tolosko, said: "I've been told by [state] Senator Marc Pacheco and by [US Representative] Barney Frank that if residents of this town don't want a casino, they will back us. I think the vote on this is very important."
Opponents have said they hope a negative vote would have some impact on how state and federal authorities react when the tribe looks to put the land in trust and obtain a compact for expanded gambling.
Logistics finely tuned
The special Town Meeting is to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the high school ball fields. Election workers will allow residents to begin the check-in process by 8 a.m. No parking, other than spaces for the handicapped, will be allowed at the high school. Voters will take buses from designating parking areas to the meeting site.
Final plans for the unusual event were formalized early this week, and a letter outlining what voters can expect was mailed to each registered voter. Roger Brunelle, the town's technology director who has spearheaded logistical planning, has strongly urged residents to bring these letters along on Saturday, since they will identify them as voters for the shuttle-bus drivers who will take them to the high school from satellite parking lots.
Brunelle, along with a committee that includes public safety representatives, Town Clerk Eileen Gates, and Town Moderator James Thomas, have provided police security for the meeting as well as at the satellite parking lots.
Fifty to 80 shuttle buses will begin to run from the satellite parking areas at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Those who arrive by shuttle will be at the ball field for the duration of the meeting because buses won't make return trips to the parking area until the meeting is closed.
Ambulances and emergency medical workers will be on site. Signers will interpret Town Meeting action for the hearing impaired. There will be three large tents for shelter, along with a special area for those with disabilities. 