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Honorable Board of Selectmen ,December 11,2006 <br /> Town of Mashpee <br /> • 16 Great Neck Road,North <br /> Mashpee,Ma.02644 <br /> Dear Htiuorable Board of Selectmen: <br /> It was printed in the local newspaper that you are meeting this evening from <br /> 6.00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m..to consider a regulation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to prevent <br /> Native American tribes from opening casinos off dwir prin my reservation.This letter <br /> addresses this issue. <br /> Mashpee Town Counsel Patrick L Cosrello stated the reason talks between the Mashpee <br /> WBmpanoag tribe and selectmen were held in secret was due to an inter-governmental <br /> CptlUM between the parties..No such contract was ever executed. Your secret talks are in <br /> #lagrant violation of the open meeting law.In fact,attorney Costello is quoted in the <br /> December 1, 2006 Mashpee Enterprise stating that despite the Mashpee Tribal Councils <br /> Promise not to open a casino on Cape Cod and Glenn Marshall,s letter reiterating that <br /> Pledge,there is no binding agreement between the parties.Mee citizens have a right <br /> to make their voices heard as to one of the single most important issues that has ever <br /> confronted the town of Mashpee. <br /> Selectman Don Meyers reported that an understanding had been reached with the <br /> Mashpee tribe that no casino would be built in Mashpee.That understanding is <br /> undennincd by the new regulation promulgated by the 13IA that tequires casinos to be <br /> built on the core reservation which means within the town of Mashpee. The Mashpee <br /> Board of Seleomcn knew of the existence of this new regulation which has been Pending <br /> for some time when it decided to forego m <br /> preiimi g any comment to She BIA regarding <br /> nary recognition of the Mashpee tribe. <br /> The Mashpee Hoard of Selectmen,was well aware at all relevant times that gaming in - <br /> Mashpee was a distinct possibility but did nothing to inform the residents what was at <br /> - stake.You are playing Russian roulette with Mashpee,s future. <br /> If the new BIA regulation passes there looms the possibility that Mashpee will become <br /> the gambling capitol of Massachusetts.VAM4 if anything,is the Mashpee Board of <br /> Selectmen doing to prevent this from happening?Why is the Board of Selectmen not <br /> holding a town meeting to solicit comments from the town? <br /> Vera'truly yours, <br /> Richard L. Terry,Esq. <br /> Concerned Citizens of Mashpee <br />