Casino accusations are shuffled out
Unknown group accuses many of corruption
By Emily Thurlow
Staff Writer
BRIMFIELD – Shortly before CEO of Palmer Paving David Callahan made his official announcement that he had chosen his development partner, MGM, residents around the town of Brimfield started to receive mailings from a group that claim to be against a casino in Brimfield. But they proved very much in favor of blame.
Within these mailings, the group who are calling themselves, “Citizens Against A Brimfield Casino,” accuse state Rep. Todd Smola (R-Palmer), state Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), state Rep. Joe Wagner (R-Chicopee), the entire Brimfield Select Board and Callahan of “corruption.” And whether residents in Brimfield are “for” a casino in town or “against” one, the mailings are upsetting a number of residents around town.
“It is certainly appropriate to express an opinion, pro or con, regarding the possibility of a casino in Brimfield, because open debate is a healthy process, but to make anonymous, unsubstantiated charges against others, including dedicated public servants, is a cowardly and desperate act that reflects more negatively on the accusers than on the accused,” said Brimfield Emergency Management Director Richard Morris. “They deserve better than to be subject to such attacks.”
Both Morris and retired Highway Surveyor Robert Hanna said that they had received between eight and ten mailings from the group and are continually receiving them.
“The Board of Selectmen have been through a lot this year and have done a fantastic job,” said Hanna. “To be criticized like this by people that aren’t signing their names on something that I know isn’t true is appalling and sneaky. It just isn’t right.”
In some of the mailings, the group claims that Select Board Chairwoman Diane Panaccione and board members Thomas Marino and Stephen Fleshman all have “real estate and financial connections with Callahan” and are corrupt.
“These people are cowards,” said Panaccione.
She said that when groups like “No Brimfield Wind,” shared their opinions, they “signed their names” to the cause, so that everyone knew where they stood.
Both Brewer and Smola agreed that the individuals behind the mailings should put their name to their accusations if they “feel so strongly” about their claims.
“Stand up or shut up,” said Brewer.
In some of the flyers, the group claimed that Brewer “sat in and recommended MGM to Callahan.” When asked about the claim, he laughed it off saying he honestly had “no idea” where that could be coming from.
Smola was also accused of having “secret meetings” with Callahan and that he and Brewer had been recipients to tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.
“First of all, my campaign contributions are published records that anyone has access to. That is not a secret,” said Smola, who noted a number of land developers he had received contributions from over the years. “But to accuse myself and Senator Brewer of corruption is laughable.”
He also noted that he knew Callahan for many years, dating back to when he was a member of the Palmer Planning Board. But the area that he found the most “laughable” was the secret meetings, being linked to the campaign funds he’d received.
“I find it particularly interesting that I would be accused of any kind of corruption when I have never voted for a casino gaming bill,” he said. “Typically when a person is corrupt, they are advocating for their cause, but since I wasn’t convinced that the bill was worthy enough to represent the people of the community, I never endorsed it. That’s really quite a stretch for someone not to endorse something that they were supposedly being paid to endorse.”
Smola said that on the contrary, he had turned down campaign contributions from individuals in the past that were too entrenched in the issue of gaming.
“I think my integrity and character speaks for itself. I drive a Toyota, not a Ferrari,” he said. “It truly amazes me the lengths that people will go to.”
At the center of the casino corruption allegations is Callahan whom the group accuses of being linked to organized crime. One flyer in particular reads: “Scratch the surface and you will find deep ties between the Bulger family and David Callahan’s companies.”
Spokesperson for Callahan, Joseph Martin that that Callahan has “no intention of responding to anonymous attacks directed at good and decent citizens and public servants.
“This rogue individual has littered potential host communities across Western Massachusetts with similar fliers and has met with a strong backlash in each of these cities and towns,” he said. “It is our understanding that law enforcement officials are looking into this activity and we fully support that investigation.”
Palmer Town Council Vice President Philip Hebert said that the council hadn’t received any kind of mailing like this one throughout the casino proposal process in his town. And while the group calls themselves as “Citizens Against A Brimfield Casino,” he doesn’t necessarily think they’re actually from Brimfield.
“I don’t think that this group is a anti-casino group,” he said. “I could be wrong, but to me it sounds like an influential and established pro-Palmer casino group that doesn’t want a casino to go to Brimfield.”
He said the fact that the group wouldn’t provide a return address or a way to contact them in itself is “spineless,” and that they should “grow up.”
Maria Thomson, a Brimfield resident who has been active in the regional group Quaboag Valley Against Casino, said that no one she is aware of has been involved with the creation of the flyers. While she said she questioned the cost of bringing infrastructure like water and sewer service to Callahan’s site, she said most people are still “digesting” the Brimfield casino proposal, and organized opposition hasn’t really formed yet.
“I’ve gotten some literature in support of the MGM Grand proposal, but I personally have not seen the anti-casino flyers,” she said, adding that where she lives in the west end of town is not too far from the proposed development. “I really can’t say who has a financial interest in this matter, other than Callahan himself.”
In addition to being mailed out to board members at the town, the flyers with numerous claims have now been mailed out to residents throughout the town and were being laid across the windows of cars at Francesco’s Italian Restaurant in Brimfield. Currently, copies of the flyers have been turned over to the town counsel as well as Brimfield Police Chief Charles Kuss for an investigation, trying to determine the sender or senders.
“Maybe the individuals are too ashamed of their libelous claims to identify themselves. However, if their hands are clean and they are law-abiding individuals, we will know who they are when they comply with Massachusetts law, by registering with our Town Clerk and reporting the source of their financing for these mailings,” said Morris.
Solar plans come down to earth
Council, planning board discuss zoning dilemma
By Douglas Farmer
Staff Writer
PALMER – Although a proposed photovoltaic (solar energy) project on 120 acres of land off Route 181 in Bondsville could impact adjacent operations including a popular restaurant and horse rescue, Palmer officials pledged Monday night to work to preserve them at a meeting of the Palmer Town Council.
Concerns surrounding zoning and allowable uses on the land arose last fall, when a variety of town departments learned that the owner of the land, Thomas Roberts (officially listed as trustee of Palmer Road Realty Trust), had announced through his attorney Richard Johnson of his intent to sell the 120 acres – exclusive of six acres retained around where Burgundy Brook Country Store and Blue Star Equiculture are operating – to Newton-based Mark Investment, LLC. This sale was ostensibly for the construction of a solar energy farm, with rows of cells that collect sunlight and convert them to usable electricity. The announced purchase price was $2.5 million.
Town officials were notified of the purchase and sale in November because the property in question is assessed under the Chapter 61A classification allowed within the Massachusetts General Laws, meaning that in return for keeping the land in agricultural and/or horticultural use, it is provided a reduced tax rate. When properties are proposed to be removed from the designation, town officials have 30 days to question the validity of the purchase and sale and an additional 60 days to arrange for an alternate purchase, such as through town funds or a nonprofit organization. Back taxes must be paid if the sale goes through.
And even though Palmer Town Planner Linda Leduc and Planning Board Chairman Michael Marciniec noted at the Jan. 9 meeting of the town council that the town clearly does not have $2.5 million to purchase the land, it would be possible in the future to have a subcommittee work on each potential removal from 61A and in some cases, work with other organizations to keep the property in agricultural use. For that reason, they brought with them Clem Clay, program director for the Trust for Public Land, who has worked on such projects in Easthampton and Northampton.
“By designating land as 61A, I believe the town has indicated it is a priority to preserve it for agriculture,” said Leduc. “So I think in the future, we should exercise its due diligence in at least consulting with town counsel and seeing what options we have.”
She added that if the town were to pass the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in the future, which allows municipalities in the state to assess up to a three percent surcharge on local property (with the first $100,000 in valuation excluded) for the purpose of open space preservation, historical preservation and affordable housing, it would also give the town additional financial flexibility. The state does match a portion of the revenue raised through funds from transactions at the Registry of Deeds, though that number has declined in recent years.
Councilor Karl Williams and others questioned why the town would want to purchase the acreage off Route 181, as it is defined in documents as “backland.” Clay commented that in one project in which he has been involved, other farms bought into a collaborative agriculture arrangement.
“The main thing is for the town to build a line of communication with agencies like ours because there is help out there if the town wants to preserve agriculture,” he said. “While the initial window of opportunity on the land you’re talking about may have passed, this project could be several years from completion.”
The town council has already waived its right-of-first-refusal in two other cases for proposed solar projects, including 5.5 acres off Route 67 in Palmer owned by the Draper family and 15 acres off River Street in Palmer owned by the Browne family. Both of these potential solar farms have been brought forward in collaboration with Solventerra LLC and – Leduc and Marciniec noted – involve a lease for use as opposed to a full-blown purchase-and-sale. Marciniec said other photovoltaic projects are being considered in town, though not necessarily on Chapter 61A land.
“That site off Route 181 is in a rural residential zone, so the restaurant is only allowed through an agricultural exemption,” said Leduc, referencing Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3 which said a business operation like Burgundy Brook was exempted from local restrictions if 25 percent of product sold came from the property and 50 percent came from Massachusetts. Planning officials had recently questioned whether limiting the preserved parcel to six acres would allow that to occur.
Meanwhile, Palmer resident Sandy Walsh, who helps administer the West Hampton, N.Y.-based Leo S. Walsh Foundation in honor of her late husband in support of her late husband, said that she was interested in seeing Blue Star Equiculture, a sanctuary for retired and/or injured work horses, preserved.
“It’s such a great thing for this town and I want to make sure it stays in Palmer,” she said.
Palmer Town Councilor Philip Hebert agreed with her sentiments. “I’d hate to see the restaurant and the horse farm go by the wayside,” he said.
Neither Johnson nor Roberts could be reached for comment for this story.
But Leduc said that she has had conversations recently with Roberts, and he voiced a willingness to continue discussions to preserve the existing operations in Bondsville.
“We will do what is in our power to keep those businesses viable,” said Marciniec.
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Police examining clues in Route 19 fatality
Asking for help of public
By Emily Thurlow
Staff Writer
WALES – Police are seeking the public’s help in an alleged hit-and-run accident that happened Tuesday morning in Wales. It was at 4:48 a.m. on Jan. 3 that 23-year old Cory Cane of Worcester was found alongside Route 19 (Stafford Road).
Upon his discovery, Brimfield Ambulance responded to the scene and transported him to Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, where he was pronounced dead. Cane was officially identified by the office of Hampden County District Attorney Mark Mastroianni yesterday.
According to the Massachusetts State Police Office of Media Relations, the preliminary investigation suggest that the individual may have been struck by a motor vehicle, but is currently trying to learn more about the vehicle that was involved. During the investigation of the incident, Route 19 was closed for approximately six hours. The investigation is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police from the Sturbridge Barracks and the Wales Police Department. They believe the incident occurred some time between 1:30 and 4:48 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding this incident are requested to contact Lieutenant Jay Hastings at the Wales Police Department at 413-245-7222 or the Sturbridge State Police Barracks at 508-347-3352. Anonymous tips can be texted to 274637. Type “Solve” as the first word in the text and then your message.
No further information was available at press time.
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Town leaders, casino pitch each other
Casino supporters hold rally in Palmer
By Douglas Farmer
Staff Writer
PALMER – Acknowledging that a resort casino in Palmer is not a foregone conclusion, supporters of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority’s vision for a facility on acreage off the Massachusetts Turnpike voiced their continued commitment to the concept Tuesday night.
Town leaders and like-minded residents pledged they would communicate with each other and state officials in Boston – particularly the new state gaming commission, to be headed by former gubernatorial chief of staff Stephen Crosby and other soon-to-be-named appointees – to make a strong case that a casino would bring economic development to the town and the entire region. For the Palmer site is but one of several that are likely to be the centerpiece of applications that also include potential casinos in Brimfield, Springfield and Holyoke.
And speakers at a casino rally co-sponsored by Palmer Businesses for a Palmer Casino and Citizens for Jobs & Growth in Palmer held at the Steaming Tender on Dec. 20 said Gov. Deval Patrick’s signature on “An Act Relative to Expanded Gaming in the Commonwealth” earlier this fall was only the beginning of the process.
Speakers at Tuesday’s event included Robert Young, spokesperson for Palmer Businesses for a Palmer Casino; Town Councilor Blake Lamothe, owner of the Steaming Tender (the former Union Station) and head of the Palmer Redevelopment Authority; state Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield); Palmer Town Council President Paul Burns; Palmer School Committee Vice Chairman James St. Amand, a liaison for Northeast Realty, from whom Mohegan is leasing their Palmer land; and Paul Brody, vice president for development at the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority.
“We applaud Mohegan for continuing to be committed to Palmer,” said Young. “The best thing we can do is to let our elected officials know that we want to make sure Palmer gets a casino. In my years in Palmer, the quality of life in town has gone down, but this is an opportunity to bring it back.”
And while Burns acknowledged there were concerns about the negative impacts a casino may bring to the town and region, Mohegan’s casino proposal – the overall development scheme includes a casino, hotel, events center, shops and restaurants – presents the most significant potential economic investment in town in the last 20 or 30 years.
Burns asked for his sons Jared, Nicholas and George to join him at the front of the room. “I’m not just doing this for casino gaming, I’m doing it for them,” he said. “Many jobs have left Palmer and we need to invest in our kids’ future and provide an economic driver from Worcester to Springfield.”
Both Burns and Young thanked Puppolo for his attendance and his support of the casino prospect, and noted that they wished there was more vocal advocacy for a Palmer casino from state Rep. Todd Smola (R-Palmer), who voted against the gaming bill.
“We fought hard to get a casino for Western Massachusetts guaranteed in the bill,” said Puppolo.
He acknowledged that the Springfield proposal, where Las Vegas-headquartered Ameristar Casinos, Inc. has announced an agreement to buy the former Westinghouse site on Page Boulevard, might be of interest to some of his constituents, but that he believed the Palmer site worked. “In these times, casinos are moving away from the urban mindset into the rural model like we have here,” he said.
And that was no doubt welcome news to Lamothe, who is not only a champion of a casino in Palmer, but also of passenger rail service – with a stop at his location. He said an “inter-nodal transportation approach” will be one of the ways to pitch a Palmer casino to the gaming commission, and the Central Corridor Rail Coalition has been formed to reestablish passenger rail service from Connecticut to Vermont, with Palmer as a hub.
“There used to be five hotels downtown, with trains passed through all the time,” he said. “We want to invest in the town’s future.”
One downtown business owner, only a few doors down from the Mohegan Sun Palmer storefront, is Nancy Bryant, proprietor of Giclee of New England, who attended Tuesday’s event. She said she had mixed feelings about a casino but wanted to see more business in town.
“I’m not a gambler but I think as a business owner, you have to be in favor of something that’s going to bring more people into town,” she said. “And of course, I’ve asked them to consider local artwork when they build the hotel.”
As for Brody, he said the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority looked forward to being part of the community.
“We are recommitting ourselves to the Palmer project,” he said. “We have no illusions that Palmer is a done deal. This will be a very robust competition, but we are looking forward to working toward our goal with the town.”
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