07/13/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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Ir "D RAFT BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JUKE 29, 2020* 11 Board of Selectmen Minutes June 29, 2020 NEW BUSINESS Discussion/Action Relative to the Mash, ee Warri Land in Trust Proceedin"'O's Late filed was a discussion I-'ollowed by action relativeto the Mashpee Wampanoag Land in Trust Proceedings, A draft statement was read into the record for the purposes of discussion with a vote made by the Board of Selectmen to anicnd the statement, and authorize a revised statement to be, placed on the official Town of Mashpee letterhead to be executed by the Board of Selectmen Chair upon revision. The drqfi statement as referciiced was read into the record; STATEMENT REG'ARDING TFIE MASHPEE WAMPANTOAG TRIBE'S RESERVATION LANDS IN MASSACHUSETTS [DRAFT—JUNE 26, 2020—FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY] On June 5. 2020, the Federal district court in Washington D.C. ruled that the Department of the Interior had misapplied the law in determining that it lacked authority to acquire trust land for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. The court remanded the case to the Department for reconsideration and prohibited the Department from altering the trust or reservation status of the Tribe's land in the meantime. The Ma,shpee Warnpanoag Tribe has been our neighbor for hundreds of years, and the Town of Mashpee wants that relationship ,to continue. 'I"he Town fully supports the Tribe's efforts to maintain this reservation in its historic territory. It is long past time for this uncertainty to be concluded. The Department should take whatever steps are necessary to protect and preserve the trust and reservation status of the Mashpec Warnpanoag Tribe's land. The Board of Selectmen agreed to revise the drqft language making reference in the second paragraph; The-Mashpee,Wampanoag Tribe has been our neighbor for hundreds of years..... To honor and respect the homeland of the Tribe and in considering the correctness of the statement it was agreed the sentence would be modified. Motion made by Selectman Sherman to authorize the refinement of the language of the statement, and authorize the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to execute the final draft of the statement regarding the Town of Mashpee's continued support of the Land in Trust, Motion seconded by Selectman O'Hara. VOTE: Unanimous. 4-0-1. Roll Call Vote, Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Cotton, yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Weeden, recused Opposed, none