04/07/2008 Special Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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r, FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WARRANT ARTICLES. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES The Town Meeting on April 7th has been called to discuss and vote on two Warrant Articles related to an agreement between the Town of Mashpee and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. x '4ash ee R�,e � ,��„ �, u�ho�z�,. A`p.,,,Inter vernmental A reement with the l' +. ��T�nbe SubYrutted b Soard of Selectmen. � , , � , This Article seeks Town Meeting approval to authorize the Board of Selectmen to execute an Inter-Governmental Agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on matters related to the transfer and conveyance to the United States certain parcels owned by either the Town of Mashpee or the Wampanoag Tribal Council and/or the Wampanoag Tribe to be placed in the Federal trust for the Wampanoag Tribe. Nine land parcels, totaling approximately 140 acres are included in the transfer, three of which are owned by the Town of Mashpee. In addition, two parcels located within the waterways of Popponessett Bay totaling 12.6 acres and designated as Aquaculture/ Wampanoag Shellfish Farm sites are also included. All of the parcels are on the tax exempt rolls of the Town of Mashpee, and therefore, Mashpee does not derive any tax f revenues from any of the parcels, nor could it, unless a parcel or parcels were sold to private interests. In addition to cooperating in every way to expedite the transfer and conveyance of the various parcels to the Federal trust, Mashpee has pledged to assist the Tribe's staff in any proposed improvements affecting land held in trust and to participate in the Tribe's capital improvement , projects that might benefit both the Tribe and the town. In exchange, the Tribe has agreed to waive any right to claims on any privately owned property u or any other lands owned by the Town of Mashpee, including all parklands and conservation lands. In addition, the Tribe has agreed not to construct or operate a casino conducting either ' Class II or Class III gaming facilities within the geographical boundaries of Mashpee. (Note, the Tribe has stated publicly that it has no intention of constructing a gaming facility on Cape Cod, but, since this agreement is between Mashpee and the Tribe, the wording only mentions the boundaries of Mashpee). Importantly also, the agreement sets out a procedure for dispute resolution which ultimately involves binding arbitration, should such a dispute get to that point. �. The federal recognition of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was a joyful and historic accomplishment for the Tribe. This Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Town of Mashpee and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is equally historic, because it sets the parameters for a cooperative and long term understanding which will benefit both parties to this agreement. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TOWN MEETING APPR,aDYAZ OF ARTICLE 1.