Town Councilor Brian J. Griffin wants to head off any negative impacts a casino in Springfield coudl have on West Springfield.
Kathleen BourqueWEST SPRINGFIELD – Town Council President Kathleen A. Bourque has agreed to form a committee that would consider any negative effects on the city as the result of a casino being sited in Springfield such as increased traffic and public safety.
There are currently four competing proposals on the table by developers who want to build a casino in Springfield as the state has authorized creating one in Western Massachusetts. A casino has been touted as a way to revitalize Springfield. Three of the proposals are for downtown Springfield and one is for a site on Page Boulevard.
Bourque agreed to form a committee during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting at the request of Town Councilor Brian J. Griffin. Griffin’s proposal did not generate any discussion. Bourque said Friday she is happy to accommodate Griffin’s request and plans to appoint a committee soon.
“All kinds of things happen when there is a huge project just half a mile away from you,” Griffin said Friday. “Clearly, there are going to be impacts on our town and we want to get out out ahead of it.”
The Legislature that allows for the building of casino requires that the host community agreement with a gaming operation take into account the venture’s impact on the region as well as outline and require the developer to mitigate any problems that arise from its impact on the region, according to Griffin.
According to Griffin, factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to traffic, public safety, increases in the school population and infrastructure.
The councilor submitted a written request to Bourque dated Sept. 4 in which he requested a committee be formed “to safeguard the rights of the Town of West Springfield.”
Griffin has asked that the city form a Town Council mitigation study committee that would include but not be limited to representatives from the mayor’s office, the Department of Public Works, the Planning Department and the Economic Development Department.
“I believe this is necessary to ensure that any and all rights of the Town of West Springfield are fully protected,” Griffin wrote.
He has also recommended that the committee seek out the expertise of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in identifying all the areas with the potential to be impacted.