Monson Local Casino Study Committee
Minutes
December 17, 2007
Attendance: Stephen Kozloski, Chief of Police; Gretchen Neggers, Town Administrator; Marshall Harris, Fire Chief, Richard Nabel (left 10:45am), Superintendent; Kathleen Norbut, Selectman. There was no quorum due to snowstorms and meeting conflicts.
Mission Statement - “To compile and collate municipal and citizen concerns/questions about the potential siting of a class III casino in an abutting community upon Monson.”
Dr. Nabel remarked that CT’s answer to losing revenue to casino gambling expansion and competition is to consider creating more casinos and shared a newspaper article about Hartford being considered for a future casino site.
Police Dept. study in Middleborough relies on FBI figures not the impact over and above the regular functions of a department. Double staff would be needed to bring Monson to FBI numbers without consideration of further impacts, reported Chief Kozloski.
Fire Department is a Volunteer based department. Both departments are short now. “Will this proposal (casinos) get us to the levels we need now? Will the state bring us the needed levels or will the town have the burden? COLA included in the proposals to keep pace with inflation? Are there contingencies for upswings or downturns in the economy?” questioned Chief Harris.
Discussion ensued on media reporting surface issues of who favors the bill but not a factual analysis of the net cost: benefits to the taxpayers and municipalities in the region. No independent studies were conducted, no regional input was included and no funds to conduct studies are in the casino bill reported Kathleen Norbut.
Discussion ensued on the survey to residents and how to distribute it to the community. Mailing the survey in March with bills and website were considered.
Meeting dates discussed.
January 17, 2008, 10:30 am, Town Office Building, 110 Main Street, Monson
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Conley Norbut
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