FY14 budget, casino mitigation still up in the air
Date: 4/25/2013
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comEAST LONGMEADOW — While the budget process reached a critical point, the casino mitigation process remained in an infantile state.
"We're ready to move forward," Paul Federici, chairman of the Board of Selectman, said of the budget, which will be presented to residents at the Town Meeting scheduled for May 20.
Federici explained the biggest challenge of creating the fiscal year 2014 budget was having "no money" and basing the numbers on Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed budget that isn't finalized until after the Selectmen have created the town budget.
"Ultimately, we want to provide the best services for the town at the most cost effective price," he added.
When asked about the issues surrounding casino mitigation, George Kingston, member of the Planning Board, vice chair of the Conservation Commission and town commissioner for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), said, "There's not a lot of dialogue yet."
He added that MGM Resorts International met with the town "to tell their story," but said that it was a one-way discussion.
"We're dealing with four different entities and don't know which one will come out on top. It makes the situation complicated," Kingston said. "Being a suburban town on the Springfield border, we have concerns."
Kingston cited traffic, residential development, crime rates and the impact to social services as concerns. He noted that all companies vying for a gaming contract have created traffic plans specific to the intersections and roadways that lead directly to their proposed sites.
Kingston said that none of the companies has discussed the increased traffic on U.S. Interstate 91 or on U.S. Route 83 that connects directly to Belmont Avenue. "It's bad now," he said of U.S. Route 5, which would be directly impacted by a casino in West Springfield or Springfield.
He stated that the town of East Longmeadow is in the process of defining its impact statement and added that the state regulations for a town or city to establish itself as a surrounding community lack clarity.
Kingston explained the town is working researching communities with similar demographics that have had a casino built within the area. He said Wilbraham, Longmeadow, Hampden and East Longmeadow are working together because they are small towns that don't have the means to hire consultants.
"We want to make sure that we're not all reinventing the wheel all at once," he said. "It is important for the townspeople to voice their concerns and reach out to the elected officials."
