Bruce Stebbins of Springfield, a member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said he can be impartial when voting on a license for a casino in Western Massachusetts.
BOSTON – A member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission from Springfield says he plans to vote on a casino license for Western Massachusetts despite concerns that he could have a conflict and might lean toward a casino for his home community if choosing among multiple proposals for the region.
Bruce StebbinsBruce W. Stebbins, 46, a member of the commission, is a former two-term member of the Springfield City Council and was business development manager for the city before accepting appointment to the commission.
The commission has developed a standard that says members can recuse themselves from a vote if they see enough of an appearance of a conflict of interest even though they might believe they can be objective despite the appearance. Commission member Gayle Cameron, a retired lieutenant colonel in the New Jersey State Police, invoked the standard when she excused herself from a decision on hiring consultants because she knew some of the consultants from New Jersey.
Stebbins said he can be impartial when voting on a license for a casino in Western Massachusetts and he sees no reason to step aside for the decision on the region's license.
"I don't think there is anything that would be a counter argument to that," Stebbins said in an interview. "I certainly feel I can be effective in my deliberations, diligent about the deliberations and unbiased and thoughtful about the applications we will be reviewing."
Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette said he believes that Stebbins was a good choice for the commission and that he has a lot of confidence in Stebbins's integrity.
But Bissonnette said it is difficult to understand how Stebbins would not give Springfield an edge in getting a casino, considering Stebbins' two former positions for the city and his knowledge of the city's economic and infrastructure needs.
Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette"If you're a Springfield elected official, it's hard not to be Springfield-centric," Bissonnette said.
Stebbins declined to say whether he supports a casino for Springfield, saying he would need to first see details of a casino's agreement with a potential host community. The agreement would need to be approved by voters in a community or by voters in a host ward in Boston, Springfield and Worcester, unless the mayor and the City Council opt for a city-wide vote.
Stebbins said he would expect to vote if a casino agreement goes before voters in Springfield, but he has not decided if he would vote.
The state's expanded gambling law gives the commission the authority to permit up to three casino resorts, one each in Greater Boston, the southeastern part of the state and Western Massachusetts. The law also allows a single slot facility that could be anywhere.
Gayle CameronThe commission will need to pick from among at least two proposals for casinos in Western Massachusetts.
So far, the Mohegan Sun of Uncasville, Connecticut is planning a casino resort for Palmer and Ameristar Casinos of Las Vegas is proposing one for Page Boulevard in Springfield.
The mayors of Chicopee and Westfield said their cities might receive casino proposals. The mayor of Springfield said he also expects possibly a couple of more casino proposals for the city.
Jennifer Baruffaldi, a spokeswoman for Citizens for Jobs & Growth in Palmer, which supports a casino for Palmer, said she is concerned that Stebbins might have a conflict but she believes he will vote on the casino proposal that is the best fit for Western Massachusetts.
"I'm a little nervous," she said of Stebbins. "Anyone would be if they are not from Springfield."
Paul E. Burns, president of the Palmer Town Council, said he is somewhat concerned about a possible conflict for Stebbins and other commission members who might vote on a casino applicant for their home community, but he believes they have enough integrity to be objective.
"I'm not going to say I have no concerns," said Burns, a casino proponent for Palmer. "I'm hopeful they can remain impartial and judge this on the merits."
When asked if Stebbins's appointment to the commission gives the city an advantage for a casino, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the commission's five members will approve the best possible proposal for Western Massachusetts. "Bruce understands what Springfield is going through," Sarno said. "They are going to base it on the proposal."
Stephen P. Crosby, the chairman of the commission, said it is important that a resident of Western Massachusetts be appointed to the commission. Crosby said he didn't believe that Stebbins would be disqualified from voting on the casino license for Western Massachusetts.
"We'll look at it when the time comes, but I don't think so," Crosby said.
Under a tentative timetable, the commission might not vote on casino resort licenses until late next year or in early 2014.
During a press conference in March, Crosby said he doubted that commission members would excuse themselves from a vote on a casino just because a proposal is for their home town or city.
"I live in Jamaica Plain," said Crosby of his home in a part of Boston. "Does that mean I have some kind of bias either pro or con? It's worth thinking about."
The Suffolk Downs horse track in East Boston is planning to bid for a casino license.
Stebbins said that when he was interviewed for his position on the commission, no one flagged his Springfield ties as a possible conflict.
Stebbins was among the final two members of the commission who were selected jointly by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, Attorney General Martha M. Coakley and Treasurer Steven Grossman.
"I'm going to review each license application as it comes in and be diligent and thoughtful about it," Stebbins said. "I personally don't feel there is anything that detracts me from giving even consideration to all applications. "