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Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes August 31, 2011
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TOWN OF HOPKINTON
Board of Selectmen
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING RE: EXPANDED GAMING
August 31, 2011
A special meeting of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, August 31,
2011 at Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Selectmen present: Todd
Cestari, Benjamin L. Palleiko, Michelle Gates, John Mosher and Brian Herr. Officials
present; Town Manager Norman Khumalo, Operations Assistant Geri Holland, Fire Chief
Ken Clark, Police Chief Rick Flannery, and State Representative Carolyn Dykema.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Cestari called the meeting to order in Room 211 at
6:30PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.
STORM EMERGENCY RESPONSE RECAP: Fire Chief Ken Clark acknowledged
the efforts of Hopkinton’s Emergency Management Team, saying that good decisions were
made using the information available. He reported that many people on Hopkinton’s east
side are still without power. Showers at the Middle School were made available to
residents without power. Chief Clark thanked the School Department and the citizens for
their patience and cooperation. Mr. Khumalo reported that the Emergency Management
Team will continue to meet every morning at 10:00AM until all issues associated with the
August 28 storm are resolved. He offered his sincere gratitude to Chief Clark, Police Chief
Rick Flannery, Highway Department Director Mike Mansir, State Senator Karen Spilka
and State Representative Carolyn Dykema for their support. He said residents have
displayed remarkable patience.
In response to Mr. Mosher, Chief Clark said NSTAR has to be called before downed wires
can be addressed. Mr. Mosher said NSTAR has not been very visible around Town.
Chief Clark responded that he doesn’t know what NSTAR’s deployment procedure is. Mr.
Khumalo explained that circuit boards, the sewer treatment plant, elderly housing and
critical care patients with power problems are NSTAR’s first priority. He said a debriefing
will take place once the clean-up is complete. Mrs. Gates thanked emergency responders
for their efforts. Mr. Palleiko called the response by the Town superb, noting that the
streets were already cleared of debris. He suggested that NSTAR be pressured to get the
power back on and asked what the Town’s options are in terms of retribution, as there had
been plenty of warning about the storm. Chief Clark said he is constantly giving NSTAR
feedback. He said he toured the Town after the storm with DPW Director John Westerling
and two supervisors from NSTAR and suggested the operations people at NSTAR may not
be getting feedback from management. Chairman Cestari said he is concerned that the
number of people without power has not been reduced over two days. He encouraged
people to reach out to neighbors in need. He advised that water is available at the Grove
Street tanks. Mr. Khumalo said the Wood Street disposal facility is open for branch and
leaf disposal. Rep. Dykema said Hopkinton will continue to receive advocacy at the state
level with regard to NSTAR.
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes August 31, 2011
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GAMING LEGISLATION: Rep. Dykema reported that the Governor, Senate President
and Speaker of the House are in lock-step in passing legislation to allow casino gambling
in Massachusetts. She said it’s important that elected officials hear from the Board and the
citizens who oppose the plan. Mr. Palleiko said gambling will not enhance revenue in the
Commonwealth or provide decent jobs and will have profound negative social
implications. He said that spending continues to be cut at the local level and that
Massachusetts citizens would be better served if the state did the same. Mr. Palleiko said
the mitigation provisions in the bill are weak, provide little time for negotiation and do not
address the social consequences. He urged Rep. Dykema and Sen. Spilka to vote against
the bill. Mrs. Gates agreed that casino gambling takes revenue out of the economy as the
money generated goes back into the casino. Mr. Mosher concurred, saying it does not
provide a sustainable economic model and does not include sufficient protection for
Hopkinton and other communities. Rep. Dykema said the current version of the bill has
additional clauses recognizing surrounding communities, but stronger provisions are
needed. The bill will allow three casinos with resort hotels to be built in Massachusetts.
One license will be issued to each of three regions; the Boston area (which includes
MetroWest), western Massachusetts and the south coast. Slot machines at race tracks will
be in addition to the casinos. Rep. Dykema said she agrees with Board members that the
provisions are not adequate and revenue projections are unrealistic. Passage of the bill will
require 81 votes in the House. Rep. Dykema said her focus, should the bill pass, will be on
addressing concerns about insufficient mitigation at the licensing board level. She said she
will file an amendment to the bill providing that any community within a certain radius of
a casino be considered a “surrounding community”.
Comments from the public: RJ Dourney of 18 Hearthstone Road said it is important for
people to understand the magnitude of the social impact, saying Hopkinton will deal with
all of the downside of a casino in Milford. The impact on infrastructure, such as public
safety and the roads will be staggering and civic pride would be eroded, not enhanced. Mr.
Dourney said he is prepared to organize businesses in Metrowest against gaming.
Nancy Barron of 29 Tammer Lane said she will leave Hopkinton if a casino is allowed in
Milford. She said she will fight against it and many people feel the same way.
John Coutino of 1 David Joseph Road said the issue has to be considered in the long term,
adding that communities can’t survive with the low-paying jobs associated with casinos.
He said the infrastructure can’t take the abuse, especially the roads. Mr. Coutino cited the
blight that gaming has caused in and around Buffalo, New York.
Doug Miller of 20 Alprilla Farm Road said he is adamantly opposed to gaming and asked
if the Legacy Farms development is a factor for a casino to locate in Milford. Chairman
Cestari responded that accessibility is the primary driver. Mr. Herr said the issue never
came up in his discussions with the Legacy Farms developer, but that it is a point that
should be explored. Chairman Cestari observed that a casino in Milford would impact
property values.
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes August 31, 2011
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Mary Murphy of 31 Elizabeth Road said she is distressed that passage of the gaming bill is
a foregone conclusion. She said a casino would bring no value to Massachusetts, adding
that people wishing to gamble can go to a number of neighboring states to do so. Ms.
Murphy noted Nevada’s 54% budget shortfall. Rep. Dykema advised people to mobilize
and contact the House and Senate leadership. She said many of her House colleagues are
not hearing opposition from their constituents.
Bob Caty of 24 Grove Street said he is vehemently opposed to casinos and asked Rep.
Dykema about the timeline of the process going forward. Rep. Dykema responded that the
vote in the House will happen in the next couple of weeks. Upon passage, the legislature
will establish a licensing board which will have a lot of authority. Board members will be
appointed.
Amy Ritterbusch of 54 Grove Street added her opposition to casinos. She cited
Massachusetts’ low unemployment rate as an indication that the state doesn’t need casinos
to bring employment.
Ken Weismantel of 145 Ash Street said traffic and crime problems will spill over into
Hopkinton from Milford and that the Selectmen will have to fight development with the
licensing board. Mr. Weismantel said he would prefer not to fight with neighboring
Milford, but said Milford doesn’t share Hopkinton’s priorities.
Linda Katz of 7 Benson Road said she is opposed to gaming and the Town should act to
stop it coming to Milford.
Ben Paharik of 6 Pike Street said gaming will be devastating to the area and observed that
the area has the best schools, colleges and corporations which could coordinate an effective
opposition.
Chairman Cestari closed the meeting by stating that gaming amounts to another tax on the
low income population with no positive social impact. Mr. Herr noted that the bill is
riddled with negative language (cheating, swindling, etc.) that suggests negative
implications and outcomes. He applauded Rep. Dykema for going against her colleagues
in the House in her opposition to the bill.
ADJOURN: MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to adjourn SECONDED by Mr. Herr. VOTE to
Approve: Unanimous
Meeting adjourned at 7:55PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Aghababian
Recording Secretary
Date approved: 10/11/11