SAUGERTIES
- The county should not enter into any casino negotiations
without first getting the go-ahead from either the local government
or the voters in the host community, a contingent of Ulster
County lawmakers say.
Legislature Chairman Richard Gerentine called the resolution
Saugerties lawmakers plan to submit for the Legislature's
June 9 session "premature," arguing that the impact
on the entire county, and not just the host community, should
be considered in any such decision.
"We're elected to do a job for the whole of Ulster County.
And this is going to affect not only the particular township,
but the whole county," said Gerentine, R-Marlboro. "I
think the decision should be in the county Legislature more
than the local level. It's not only going to have an effect
locally, but countywide."
Saugerties lawmakers want the decision on the Seneca-Cayuga
Tribe's proposal to build a casino/resort complex on the Winston
Farm in the hands of the town and village boards, rather than
the county Legislature. Saugerties town Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel
and village Mayor Robert Yerick both oppose the proposal,
and plan to offer resolutions saying as much before their
respective boards in the coming weeks.
"The purpose of this resolution is to make sure that
the voters and governing bodies of each municipality in Ulster
County will have their say, and Ulster County will respect
their wishes," said Legislator Joseph Roberti, R-Saugerties.
A pending state bill that would authorize the establishment
of three Indian casinos in Ulster and Sullivan counties includes
a provision requiring county approval of casinos, but not
town approval, making the counties' positions more crucial
from a legal perspective than the local view.
Roberti, along with fellow Saugerties Republicans Robert Aiello
and Alice Tipp, and Majority Leader Michael Stock, R-Woodstock,
whose district includes a sliver of West Saugerties, are sponsoring
the measure. Legislator Joan Feldmann, D-Saugerties, is also
a likely sponsor. Legislator Brian Shapiro, D-Woodstock, has
been asked to co-sponsor the measure, but said he would like
the county to first enforce a resolution adopted in 2002 calling
for a study on the impacts of casino gambling in Ulster County.
Gerentine said he expects to announce today the formation
of an independent fact-finding committee to examine the casino
proposal and the impact on the county, and advise the Legislature
in its decision.
The proposed resolution does not take a position on the Seneca-Cayuga
proposal, but bars the county from negotiating with any tribal
government for casino development without the host municipality
first giving its approval, either by a vote of the town or
village board, or a public referendum.
"We're trying to get to the forefront, to take action
as quickly as we can and once again avoid something that the
public has clearly said it does not want," said Aiello.
"I think it's very important, because when you place
something in the area that's going to affect all the people,
I think it's important that we have home rule," said
Tipp.
Stock said the resolution would go both ways with regards
to respecting home rule, in that it would put the county's
support behind communities that want a casino located there,
as well as blocking such development in those that don't.
Several people have suggested that in its weak financial position,
the county might be swayed into favoring a casino by the $15
million the Seneca-Cayugas have offered the county to form
a casino compact for the Winston Farm proposal. Gerentine,
however, said the county's decision on the casino proposal
will be made independently of the county's balance sheet. |
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