Middleboro, Mashpee tensions mount over failed casino deal

Tension between the town and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is growing as both sides stake out their positions in the squabble over a now-defunct deal to put a casino in Middleboro.

 Selectmen on Monday voted unanimously to send a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick asking him to insist the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe work with the town to resolve differences over their agreement and  to cease any negotiations with the tribe until the matter is resolved.

  The tribe entered into an agreement with Middleboro in 2007 to put a resort casino on land  in Middleboro. But the deal fizzled and the tribe began looking elsewhere for a casino location, most recently on land near Route 24 in Taunton.

    The state’s new casino law will allow  one casino each in southeastern Massachusetts,  greater Boston and western Massachusetts – plus one slots parlor in the entire state.  

   Middleboro selectmen say the tribe stopped making its mitigation planning payments to the town and froze all planning and grant applications for more than five years.

 But the tribe maintains it has no contractual obligations with the town and stated its position  in a March 8 letter to selectmen from attorney Howard M. Cooper of Todd Weld, who represents the tribe.

“The tribe is becoming increasingly concerned with Middleboro’s irresponsible, false and improper efforts to promote via the media a meritless claim that the town somehow possesses legal rights against the tribe concerning the tribe’s pursuit of a destination resort and casino in Taunton,” Cooper stated in the letter.

Selectmen Chairman Alfred P. Rullo Jr. said the letter was in response to public comments he made on a Boston radio station regarding his concerns with the tribe’s attempt to relocate the casino.

“The intent of the letter was to tell me to shut up, and I am not going to shut up,” said Rullo.

The town’s letter to the governor expresses town officials’  concern that the tribe is seeking another location for the casino.

“The tribe should not be allowed to move from one community to another or to enlist your support in any compact until it has fulfilled its obligations to Middleboro,” the letter states.

The town indicated it is looking for a monetary settlement from the tribe.

   “The Intergovernmental Agreement affirmatively requires the Tribe to ‘mitigate any impacts’ on the town arising from its involvement in competitive projects,” the letter states.

The town’s letter concludes, “Middleboro has made every effort to resolve these issues with the tribe, but the town has been treated with disrespect and dismissiveness. It is noteworthy that the tribe concealed from Middleboro the fact that its land-to-trust application had either been withdrawn from, or rejected by, the Bureau of Indian Affairs many months ago.”

Selectman Steven P. Spataro said he felt the language in the letter was too strong, but was overruled by fellow selectmen.

“I think this letter is very well written, and I am very happy with it,” said Selectman Allin Frawley.

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