Massachusetts Casino Planning Slows

MIDDLEBORO, Massachusetts -- As reported by the Middleboro Enterprise: "Town planning for a proposed casino has ground to a halt, and selectmen have called an emergency meeting for Saturday to
  resolve the problem.

"During an executive session on Monday, selectmen hammered out an employment contract for a temporary planner to take some of the workload off Town Planner Ruth M. Geoffroy, who has been the town's point person for the proposed Mashpee Wampanoag tribe's casino.

"Five months ago, the tribe paid the town $250,000 for planning expenses, and despite the Planning Board's repeated requests for selectmen to spend some of the money and hire an assistant for Geoffroy, selectmen have dragged their feet, said board member Peter A. Reynolds.

"Just last week, the tribe paid another $250,000 for staff and engineering expenses related to the casino, but so far selectmen have only used the money to hire a clerk.

"...The glitch is over the contract selectmen prepared, which calls for an 'at-will' employee who will not come under the union formed by the General Municipal Employees Group..."