Board of Selectmen s2

BOARD OF SELECTMEN October 27, 2015 SPECIAL MEETING SELECTMEN PRESENT: Steven N. Wawruck, Jr., Dennis Gragnolati, and Michael Russo ALSO ATTENDING: Kevin Dillion & Bob Bruno (Connecticut Airport Authority), residents, and representatives from the Foxwood Casino & a local construction union ------CALL TO ORDER: First Selectman Wawruck called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was observed. Selectman Wawruck stated that the second Public Input would take place following the CAA presentation and before the Selectmen’s vote.

PUBLIC INPUT: Public Input was received from the following individuals: ● Patrick Sayers (resident) – was in favor, will create more jobs and increase revenue to the Town. ● Michael Bracken (resident) – was concerned with using Terminal B for a casino, thought it would eliminate the chance of International Flights and possible regular airlines that currently fly out of the airport, and that tax revenue from a casino at the airport might not be guaranteed. ● William Rousseau (resident) – asked to have the perimeters of the CAA proposal clarified. First Selectman Wawruck stated that the proposal is the first step in a long process; tonight a proposal will be presented for the location of a casino in Windsor Locks. Following the submission of the RFP, the Tribal Nation will select a town of their choice. The legislative body of the selected town will make the decision at that time to move the proposal forward or not. ● Denise Gladeau (resident of Uncasville, CT/employed at Foxwood’s Casino) – felt that keeping casino’s in Connecticut will keep revenue and jobs in the State. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 6, 2015 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Selectman Gragnolati moved to approve the Minutes from the October 6, 2015 Regular Meeting as published. Selectman Russo seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion pas sed. CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was distributed for the Selectmen’s review: a. Indigence Standards for Purposes of FOIA Requests b. Ruling on MDC Arbitration Proceedings against CRRA/MIRA TAX REFUNDS: Selectman Gragnolati moved to approve the Refund Request for October 27, 2015 in the amount of $9,984.83 as defined in Schedule A. Selectman Russo seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion passed. A copy of Schedule A will be attached to the Minutes of the October 27, 2015 Board of Selectmen Meeting. OLD BUSINESS: a. RFP for Gaming Facility at Bradley International Airport Kevin Dillon, Executive Director and CEO of the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and Bob Bru no, Chief Engineer at the Airport came before the Board of Selectmen to ask the Town to consider partnering with the CAA on an RFP submittal for a casino at Bradley International Airport. Board of Selectmen, Special Meeting October 27, 2015 136

Mr. Dillon explained that State Legislation has allowed for the Tribal Nation to form a business coalition to present a casino business prospect to municipalities. The CAA feels that bringing a gaming facility to the airport in Windsor Locks is a unique opportunity. Mr. Dillon stated that a lot of information is not available to share on the specifics of the location because it is a competitive process with other towns. Mr. Dillon continued by stating there are three areas within the airport campus that are under consideration for the gaming facility; the first is where the old Murphy Terminal (Terminal B) building is located, the second would be to incorporate it into the new Transportation Center, and the third site would be an expansion of the Sheraton Hotel. All of the plans that exist at the airport today would be amended to allow for the construction of this facility within the terminal campus area on the airport while still allowing for all of the necessary infrastructure for the purposes of the airport, including the ability to cultivate International flight service. Mr. Dillon referred to the tight time-line of November 6th that was given for the RFP and stated that they would need to move quickly if the town is in favor of the proposal. He again added that it is a unique opportunity to bring in revenue for the airport and the town. A lot of jobs would be created, not only related to the construction, but also in the ongoing operations of the facility.

PUBLIC INPUT: Public Input was received as follows: ● Channel 22 News Reporter – questioned how security features would be incorporated; would it be handled by the current personnel controlling the airport, or would it be the town’s responsibility? Mr. Dillon: this facility would operate its own Fire Department and is under contract with the State Police for law enforcement. ● Michael Bracken (resident) – questioned the Homeland Security measures that would need to be taken, and if the Town is trying to take over the law enforcement of the airport? Selectman Wawruck: stated that the Town has no plans to take over policing the airport. ● Bob Anderson (resident) – will the Town lose revenue with their assessments every year if rental car companies are housed at the airport? Selectman Wawruck: thought that the Town gets tax revenue from the cars that are currently at the airport but stated that he will get more clarity from the Assessor. ● William Rousseau (resident) – stated that the State Police Contract with the Airport Authority can be voided after a 30-day notice. He was concerned that it could become the burden of the Town to provide extra manpower enforcement services. ● Chris Kervick (resident) – Felt that the RFP should be allowed to move forward so that the Town will have some leverage during the negotiation process. ● Peggy Sayers (resident) – felt that the RFP should be allowed to move forward. The Town will benefit from the increased revenue and the creation of jobs. She thought that the residents should have the opportunity to vote on it. ● Paul Harrington (resident) – referred to the previous Board of Selectmen’s meeting where it was agreed to not take any action on moving an RFP forward before the municipal election. Why is action being taken tonight? Selectman Wawruck: stated that he agreed to not take any action until he had spoken with the State Representative and the Gaming Commission on how the process was going to play out. It was originally thought that public hearings and a referendum would need to take place before the November 6th deadline, which would have been difficult to accomplish. Now the information has

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come forward that the Selectmen will only need to vote to allow the RFP to be submitted for consideration. This is the first step in moving forward to be considered for a casino site. It does not commit the Town in any way; it’s just the first step in a long process that needs to take place before the residents can weigh in on their decision. The RFP allows for any entities that want to put their proposals forward for a casino location before November 6th deadline. After the RFP’s have been received, the Tribal Nations will meet with their realtor to determine their ideal site. Once a site has been selected, the proposal will go back to the town to be fully vetted to the residents by way of town meetings, public hearings, and hopefully a Referendum to allow the townspeople to participate in – not just a select few. All of this information was not available at the Selectmen’s meeting that was held a few weeks ago. It’s being discussed tonight because a lot has changed since that meeting and many questions have been answered. ● Tom Allen (resident) – had reservations in dealing with the State specifically in reference to the Suffield prison located on the Windsor Locks border.

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS: ● Selectman Russo referred to the agreed decision that was made at the last Board of Selectmen’s Meeting to not take any action on this RFP before a municipal election. Minutes from that meeting reflect that the residents should be the ones to decide if a casino should be located in town. He felt that because there may be a completely new Board of Selectmen after the election no action should be taken before then. He felt that there are not enough assurances that the Town will realize any benefits from a casino being located at the airport. ● Selectman Gragnolati saw no benefit to Windsor Locks by having a casino at the airport. With the exception of potential tax revenue, regardless of where a casino goes in the area, people will drive to any construction jobs and casino jobs that are available. He felt that the pernicious effects of a casino located in town should be considered.

COMMENTS – FIRST SELECTMAN: Selectman Wawruck encouraged passage of the vote to move the RFP forward to allow the airport to further their plans, and to keep a seat at the table during negotiations for revenues that will be garnered by the State if the airport location is selected. He stated that the legislation that was created in late spring was designed to stem the exodus of jobs and revenue from the State of Connecticut to the State of Massachusetts. The RFP is the first step in the process that will allow the airport and other entities to compete with other area locations. The airport is a destination location; 5½ million use the airport already, before the recession it was well over 7 million. The traffic flow can be handled. If the process does not move forward the town will not have a seat at the table during negotiations and tax revenue (for the town) will be lost. Intergovernmental revenues are shrinking every year so innovative ways need to be found to keep the tax burden from falling back onto the property owners. Selectman Wawruck asked for a motion to allow the RFP process to move forward. No motion was made. Selectman Wawruck moved to allow the RFP process to move forward to the next stage with the airport entity as the sole applicant with the November 6th deadline, and to allow the First Selectman to sign the necessary documentation to further this effort on behalf of the Town of Windsor Locks. The motion was not seconded. Motion died. Selectman Wawruck stated that the town just lost an opportunity for job creation and tax revenue for Windsor Locks and the State of Connecticut.

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ADJOURNMENT: There being no further discussion or information to come before the Board of Selectmen; A motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. was made by Selectman Gragnolati and second ed by Selectman Russo. All were in favor. Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted, Susan R. Barsanti Susan R. Barsanti Recording Secretary 139

Schedule A

Refund Request for October 27, 2015

Name Bill Number Reason for Refund Refund Amount Prior Years American Honda Motor Co 555 Old County Road Assessment Windsor Locks, CT 06096 2013-3-50266 Adjusted $ 277.00

Joan Shea 164 Day Street Brooklyn, CT 06234 2013-3-70834 Over Payment $ 75.30

Estate of Theresa Wadsworth 41718 Stumptown Road Leesburg, VA 20176 2013-3-72388 Vehicle Sold $ 1.83

Melissa Winiarz 93 Oak Ridge Drive Windsor Locks, CT 06096 2013-3-72818 Over Payment $ 13.52

Current Year Bills 1st Nat’l Bank of Suffield PO Box 96 Attn: Sue Adams Suffield, CT 06078 2014-1-507 Pd in Error $ 1647.60

Wieslaw Pokusa 22 Oak Ridge Drive Windsor Locks, CT 06096 2014-3-62720 Vehicle Donated $ 5.68

Ryder Truck Rental 99 Murphy Road 2014 See- Assessment Hartford, CT 06114 Attached Adjusted $7865.88

Joan Shea 164 Day Street Brooklyn, CT 06234 2014-3-67368 Over Payment $ 64.61

Arielle Susco 23 Merrigan Lane Windsor Locks, CT 06096 2014-3-67998 Vehicle Totaled $ 33.41 Prior Year Refunds $ 367.65 Current Year Refunds $ 9617.18 TOTAL REFUNDS $ 9984.83 140