Voters to decide fate of Hard Rock on Sept. 10
Date: 7/26/2013
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWEST SPRINGFIELD – The fate of Hard Rock New England (HRNE) is now in the hands of the voters.
At a special meeting of the Town Council on July 23, the councilors voted unanimously to conduct a referendum election for the proposal on Sept. 10, just days prior to the start of this year’s Big E. No discussion ensued. The only councilor absent was Vice President Brian Griffin who was on vacation.
“We did exactly what we needed to do,” Kathleen Bourque, council president, said of the vote. She added it is imperative the voters are the ones to decide whether the HRNE proposal is right for West Springfield.
Bourque said she would meet with HRNE President Tim Maland as early as next week to discuss the zoning requirements of the project. “We’re moving forward as we should be,” Bourque said.
The next meeting of the Town Council was slated for Aug. 5, but was conducted ahead of schedule after At-large Councilor George Kelly initiated the special meeting request. Councilors John Sweeney, Angus Rushlow and Bruce Gendron, George Condon and Robert Mancini all signed in support of the request.
Per Section 1030 of the Town Council rules, any three members of the council can request a special meeting. The Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law requires a minimum of 48 hours notice for meetings, with the exception of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Bourque explained the intention of their request was to give HRNE adequate time to advertise and voters enough time to ask questions about the proposal.
The ballot question will read: “Shall the city of West Springfield permit the operation of a gaming establishment licensed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to be located at and in the vicinity of the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition on Memorial Avenue?”
HRNE will host the grand opening of its campaign headquarters, 1425 Westfield St., on July 30 at 5 p.m. The event will also be the official launch of West Side Yes! a group of local supporters that made its first appearance at the special meeting.
