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i <br /> Board of Selectmen <br /> Minutes—Verbatim <br /> October 10, 2000 <br /> George Benway: Mr. Chairman,just a couple of comments. First of all you <br /> addressed what Chuckie Green who I respect said about persons <br /> representing us in Washington or lobbyists. The Tribal Council <br /> has hired Mr. Connolly from the state level and has paid him <br /> $25,000 for a six-month term and probably additional. There must <br /> be a reason, and a good one that the Tribal Council has seen this to <br /> its advantage to employ such a person. <br /> Also, addressing the legal counsel for a moment,perhaps new <br /> counsel, such as the counsel mentioned I think that is representing <br /> the Towns of Connecticut is an appropriate and an interesting <br /> approach to the problem. However, to just employ them and to <br /> disregard our connection with Hale and Dorr seems not prudent. <br /> Because the learning curve that these new attorneys would have to <br /> overcome is extreme. Where Hale and Dorr, even today has a <br /> small section in their rooms called the Mashpee room. And they <br /> have all of the background. In fact, you probably would find, that <br /> new attorneys, if employed by the town, one of the first things they <br /> would do is put a phone call into Hale and Dorr and say, we have <br /> to meet with you guys. And therefore, you are not going to get a <br /> bill from Hale and Dorr directly, but you are going to get it through <br /> the new attorneys. <br /> It would seem to me that the best approach in that regard is a team <br /> approach to represent the town in the best interest of the Town of <br /> Mashpee. And that,the attorneys from Connecticut should be <br /> approached, but they should be approached in conjunction with <br /> using Hale and Dorr as our lobbyist if you will in Washington. <br /> Hale and Darr is important not only from their legal expertise, but <br /> they are important from their connections being Massachusetts <br /> attorneys with an office in Washington, D.C. They don't have to <br /> send people down there. They can have instant access on our <br /> behalf in Massachusetts vs. Connecticut attorneys that haven't got <br /> a clue.as to what Mashpee is all about. <br /> Cl <br />