Plainville, Massachusetts town diplomat is taking offence at the proposed ban on voted officials from gambling at casinos in the area. Elected moderator Luke P. Travis has sent a letter to the state Gaming Commission in which he outlines his dissatisfaction with the said ban rejecting the idea that he “cannot be trusted” to comply with his due responsibilities “while enjoying myself from time to time at a casino”.
According to Plainville town administrator, Joseph Fernandes, Travis receives $25 per meeting, and there are around two or three meetings in spring during which town issues are resolved. Therefore this would be an issue of favouritism between the local official and the casino operators, a problem which the ban is intended to prevent.
Travis asserts that in fact residents might be discouraged from serving as officials considering certain personal liberties might be fenced-in or even taken away. He also states that this ban is borderline unconstitutional as it focuses on town administrators such as park officers and public library trustees. If the ban were to be passed, these aforementioned official persons would be allowed on casino grounds but not be permitted to place bets.
The casino, due to open on June 24th, will be set on a site of 90-acres, will host 1,250 slot machines and will exhibit a harness horse racetrack. It will also feature a sports bar, a grill house and food court. Live bands from the region will adorn the lounge bar and other means of entertainment such as wine festivals, games shows and other attractions will be available.
At Thursday’s meeting, chairman of the Gaming Commission Stephen P. Crosby addressed the issue to the board after reading Travis’ letter. Since Travis seemed to have raised a real matter, the chairman requested that inquiries be made in all communities where casinos were being built, to reveal what the general opinion is among other officials, before voting pro or con on the ban.