Gaming commission starting from ground up

By Taryn Plumb

Turley Publications Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD – Tourism, workforce training and community mitigation have all been pressure points (particularly the latter) as the state has marched on its lengthy path toward legalizing gambling.

Last week, in its first formal visit to Western Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission heard extensive discourse on all three topics in a marathon session at Western New England University.

Then, immediately following the forum, the commission announced in a meeting that it was prepared to accept initial applications from casino developers, and, as of last Friday, one had already taken them up on the offer, according to published reports: Suffolk Downs submitted an application along with the nonrefundable $400,000 application fee.

The forum was the first to be held in Western Mass., which has become one of the state’s fiercest battle grounds for a casino, with several contenders – including Ameristar Casinos, Hard Rock Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Mohegan Sun – all eyeing the area and potentially looking to vie for its one license.

But wherever a development ends up, all the panelists at last week’s forum stressed the importance of communities, developers and operators working together.

Monica Lamboy, an associate with the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston, likened the relationship to a “three-legged stool,” in which all parties have to work together to create a “stable relationship.”

The former executive director of the Somerville’s office of strategic planning and community development, she suggested that municipalities emulate casino projects that been successful; assemble a technical team; maintain design control; and promote a culture that’s open to change. Communities can mitigate to a certain extent, she noted, but there is inevitably going to be change, which, she acknowledged, is difficult.

Equally as important is creating a “do not cross line,” she said, identifying when to say no when a request is too big.

Most of all, “communicate, communicate, communicate,” she said, noting that there’s no excuse not to these days, with email, social media, and tools such as Skype.

Speros A. Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Indiana, agreed that communities need to be proactive when reviewing a casino proposal – and it’s also crucial to think long-term. His region is home to 8,833 slots and 335 tables, and casino gambling, he said, is a “very, very important part of what we do.”

But be cautious, he warned: Right now, as the licensing process ramps up, communities and the gaming commission are the “belles of the ball” to casino operators – but that feeling will go away once the licenses are awarded and they set up shop. Likewise, they’re going to be inwardly-focused as they build up their businesses.

“Their model is to keep (customers) in the casino,” he said. “We shouldn’t be surprised by this.”

So, he suggested, develop a well-communicated, community-wide plan that outlives current casino management and administrations. Also, he advised the audience to think about potential community partnerships, such as theme outlets that can create more of an overall destination in the community, player cards at local businesses that provide discounts and special offers to casino visitors, and partnerships that connect local farmers and manufacturers with casinos.

As for the gaming dollars the state receives? Don’t use it for general fund shortfalls, he said, but instead plan for capital investments.

In the end, he lauded the state for its approach to casinos. “The Indiana Gaming Commission process didn’t look anything like this,” he said, explaining that his state’s commission formed quickly and moved ahead just as quickly. “Congratulations, I think you did it right.”

Another key component up for discussion: Workforce development and training.

Laurie Salame, a lecturer in the department of hospitality and tourism management at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, pointed to strategic relationships between gambling establishments and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and the University of New Orleans.

The gaming commission, she said, should work on a memorandum of understanding with casinos related to training and development, and should also try to seek a commitment on the part of the industry to hire local.

Meanwhile, Holyoke Community College President Bill Messner touched upon the breadth and diversity of jobs that will be required once casinos are established. It’s estimated that a Western Mass. facility – wherever it ends up – will require a workforce of 1,000 to 1,500 construction employees, 2,500 to 3,000 casino employees, and 1,000 to 1,500 indirect employees, he said. He expects that 45 to 50 percent of the casino jobs will be entry-level, 20 to 30 percent will be highly-skilled non-gaming, and the remainder a mix of mid-skilled and highly-skilled gaming and non-gaming jobs.

Per the legislation, he said, it’s the commission’s job to establish minimum training requirements, as well as certification procedures for training schools. Going forward, he indicated, the goal should be to create a training consortium in the community college system, as well as a collaboration between one-stop career centers, vendors, educational entities, community organizations, civic and economic development leaders, labor unions, and regional employment boards.

Collaboration, he said, will not only help to ensure net job gain, but will also maintain gaming integrity in the casinos, and will ultimately allow the industry to stay competitive through its skilled workforce.

Panelists also discussed the manners and methods of host and abutting community mitigation – an issue that has become a thorny one as the state has hashed out the licensing process.

But just what constitutes an abutting community will ultimately be determined by the gaming commission, Chairman Stephen Crosby explained. However, the group hasn’t yet begun to analyze the issue, and it will likely need assistance coming up with a metric, template, or format, he said.

“This is an area where we’re going to need help as time unfolds,” he acknowledged.

WARE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTEBOOK

By Melissa Fales

Reporter

 2011 – 2012 Ware High Booster Club donations total over $18,000

Don Swarts, president of the Ware High School Booster Club, was at the Aug. 15 meeting of the Ware School Committee to update the committee on some of the items purchased by the Booster Club during the 2011-2012 school year. In all, the items and services paid for by the club total $18,210.70.  

Swarts said the Booster Club had two main revenue sources. “Our major fundraiser was lottery calendar sales,” he said, which raised $12,380. Swarts said the proceeds from the concession stand, open during 35 basketball and football games, totaled several thousand dollars. He thanked the parents who volunteered their time to man the concession stand and helped out with other club activities. “Without them we would not be able to do the things we do,” he said. 

Among the items purchased by the Booster Club last year were $2000 worth of new helmets and shoulder pads for the football team and a $1649 softball pitching machine for practice. The club spent a total of $1562 on the three end-of-season sports banquets. Some of the other club’s other donations included paying $1313.25 for banners and plaques to recognize student athletes, $200 for a bus to a New England Revolution game, and $1228 for practice t-shirts for the boys and girls basket ball teams.

Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach, Superintendent, acknowledged how important the Booster Club is to the Athletic Department and thanked Swarts for both his participation in the club and for coaching junior varsity volleyball.  Beach called Swarts “someone who’s really an asset to our athletic program.”  

Committee Chair Christopher Desjardins also commented on the support the Athletic Department receives from the Booster Club. “It certainly makes a big difference in what we can give the kids to use,” he said.

 

Cell phone policy

The committee reviewed the new cell phone policy for Ware Junior Senior High School which gives students more flexibility and latitude in using their electronic devices. Beach said the school would give the new policy a try. “We’re going to review it again in two months,” she said. “As long as the students can use their phones without abusing the privilege, it should be a good thing,” said Desjardins. 

 

Staffing update for district

Beach told the board she had received two resignations over the past week, leaving a vacancy at the WJSHS librarian position as well as one for a LEAP Paraprofessional at Ware Middle School.

There have been 22 new hires over the summer, five transfers, and seven new positions, including one new First Grade teacher to accommodate last year’s large Kindergarten class.

 

Teachers thanked for volunteering over the summer

Desjardins thanked the teachers and others who volunteered their time over the summer to help get the schools ready. In particular, he noted teachers volunteering at the Stanley M. Koziol Elementary School library who spent two weeks sorting books by reading levels. “It shows the kind of teachers we have here,” said Desjardins. “They come in on their own time to get things done for no pay of any kind. It means a lot.”

 

Kindergarten School Bus Orientation Aug. 23

School bus orientation for all incoming Kindergarten students is scheduled for Aug. 23 from 10 to 11:30 in the SMK cafeteria.

 

Facilities improvements

Beach updated the committee on various improvements to the facilities made over the summer. In the early-childhood area of SMK, worn-out carpet was taken up and tile put down in its place and new gym windows were installed. Beach said there was a problem with the other ones fogging up. “They have to be more energy efficient than the ones that were there,” said Desjardins.

At the athletic field, stairs have been installed from the announcer’s stand to the track, a new sound system was purchased and Ware Community Television has constructed a filming stand.

The gym floor at WJSHS has been repaired and completely refurbished, including a Ware Indians mascot painted into the middle of the floor.

Beach thanked Chris Dymon and the Maintenance team for all their work on the facilities over the summer. “The campus looks great as we start the 2012-2013 school year,” said Beach. The first day of school for returning students is Wednesday, Aug. 29. Kindergarten starts on Sept. 6.