Mayor: In 2012 city will shine

Date: 2/22/2012

Feb. 22, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — During his State of the City address at the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce meeting on Feb. 15, Mayor Michael Bissonnette said that by the end of March he will be announcing whether or not a casino developer would be considering Chicopee.

After his speech, Bissonnette confirmed that two locations are being considered: the Chicopee River Business Park and Airpark South. A plan to bring a casino to downtown Chicopee has been rejected due to conservation and wetland issues, he added.

He anticipated that if a developer chooses Chicopee and if a host plan were negotiated, then a referendum would be conducted in 2013.

Describing it as "a long process," he said he didn't anticipate seeing a finished casino anywhere in the state for at least five years.

Bissonnette told the packed room at the Castle of Knights that he has been a supporter of casino development and the issue was the "800-pound gorilla in the room."

Although any location in the four western counties could be considered by a developer, Bissonnette said, "The game is in Hampden County and every national and international casino developer knows that."

Springfield, Palmer, Brimfield and Holyoke have all been suggested as possible locations for a resort casino.

He added the members of the state's commission to determine the rules around casino development have not all been chosen and the commission itself "doesn't even have a phone hooked up."

Noting the 50th anniversary of the chamber, Bissonnette called the organization "the collective voice of the business community."

He urged those attending to put forth "a clarion call" in support of the current mission of Westover Air Reserve Base and resist any reductions in its operations. He noted the important role Westover has in supplying civilian jobs and contributing to the local economy.

Bissonnette asked, "Could there have been a worse year?" when it came to weather of 2011. He added the city residents "came to the reality of just how much we depend upon one another."

He thanked Chicopee Electric Light for their efforts to restore power to the city during the microburst and the Oct. 29, 2011 snowstorm.

Running through a list of economic development issues, Bissonnette noted the demolition of the Market Square building to create additional parking spaces downtown; the challenges posed by the closing of the Davitt Bridge; the continual development of the biking and walking path next to the Chicopee River; and the forward movement on the demolition and redevelopment of the Uniroyal/Facemate complex.

"This is Chicopee's year to shine," he said of 2012.