Monson Local Casino Study Committee
Summary 2008
The Monson Board of Selectmen voted to establish a Local Casino Study Committee in the fall of 2007 in response to Governor Deval L. Patrick filing legislation to create three class III casinos in Massachusetts.
The Local Casino Study Committee (LCSC) was comprised of department heads and two at-large members of the community of Monson. The LCSC met once per month from October 2007- March 2008. The Local Casino Study Committee was formed to “To compile and collate municipal and citizen concerns/questions about the potential siting of a class III casino in an abutting community upon Monson.”
The LCSC did not attempt to conduct a scientific impact study that would have required professional consultants and significant funding. Rather the LCSC solicited input from the community and department heads on their concerns and questions should a class III casino be sited in an abutting community.
The results of the casino survey are as follows:
Number received: 782
192 with numbers and comments/concerns.
319 with numbers and no comments/concerns.
44 with only check marks or X's and comments/concerns.
67 with only check marks or X's and no comments/concerns.
There were 38 pro casino with no numbers, but they did have comments.
122 pro casino with no numbers and no comments.
The top concerns were: 360 - character
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~350 - traffic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~271 - crime
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~257 - accidents
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~240 - taxes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~218 - schools
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~215 - housing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~207 - environment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~169 - business
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~128 - pollution
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~118 - water
Letters were sent to the LCSC by the Monson Fire Department, Highway Department and Conservation Commission detailing their specific concerns should a casino be sited in an abutting community to Monson. These letters along with minutes of the open meetings are posted on the town’s website www.monson-ma.gov. Hard copies are available by request at the offices of the Board of Selectmen, Street110 Main Street, or by calling (413) 267-4100.
Acknowledgements
Sincere appreciation to the following individuals who shared their experiences and expertise with community matters as members of the Local Casino Study Committee.
Fire Chief – Marshall Harris, Water/Sewer Superintendent – Craig Jalbert, Chief of Police – Stephen Kozloski, Jr., Building Inspector, - Chip Lapointe, Highway Surveyor – John Morrell, Town Administrator-Gretchen Neggers. At-large community members: Joseph Prior and James White.
Recognition
Town Collector’s Department: Dorothy P. Jenkins, Kathy Carr, Claire Forgues for their assistance in folding, stuffing and mailing surveys with excise tax bills. Their assistance enabled the committee to survey the community at minimal cost.
Secretary to the Board of Selectmen: Gaylin Bingle for her diligence in compiling the survey results.
It is expected that the LCSC will re-assemble and continue work on this issue should future legislation be submitted that might impact the Town of Monson.
For further information or questions please do not hesitate to contact:
Kathleen Conley Norbut, Chairperson Local Casino Study Committee.
(413) 267-4100
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Conley Norbut
Selectman, Chairperson
Local Casino Study Committee
May 5, 2008
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