Voters Approve $100,000 to Help Casino Mitigation

As Foxwoods Massachusetts plans to establish a storefront in Milford, voters in surrounding towns are putting their money where there mouth is to prepare for mitigation.

At the first night of Hopkinton's annual town meeting, voters were asked to approve $100,00 "to cover the legal and consulting expenses incurred in opposing the siting of a casino in Milford."

While explaining the need for this money, which according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission should be provided by the casino developers, Selectman Benjamin Palleiko said the developers have no obligation to provide the money in a timely manner.

"This is not a lot of money for us to spend compared to the possible millions of dollars we could get in mitigation from the developers," Palleiko said.

The intended use for the money is to facilitate impact studies and get legal counsel involved for contract negotiations with the casino as a surrounding community.

Many residents at the meeting raised concerns with the wording of the article, specifically where it says "opposing the casino" so when Wendy Zimmerman recommended a change to "mitigating the impact of a casino" town leaders followed her lead.

Ultimately the article read "to cover the legal and consulting expenses incurred in connection with the siting of a casino in Milford" and was approved by a majority of voters.

The money will be put in to an intercommunity pool with matching amounts from towns including Holliston, Medway, Ashland and possibly more pending approval at each town's annual meeting. Each town will appoint a designee from their Board of Selectmen to oversee the use of the money and focus on the towns' best interests.