Advisory Committee Votes to Ask Selectmen to Reconsider Holding Casino Forum

Members of the advisory committee voted 11-0 on Wednesday night to ask the board of selectmen to reconsider their to allow Wynn Resorts to present on their proposed casino in town on Jan. 10.

The advisory committee agreed unanimously to ask selectmen to schedule a non-binding referendum at an election before hearing the casino proposal from Wynn, the Foxboro Reporter reports.

“I think putting it to a vote of the town so they can settle the issue of gaming or no gaming prior to any expensive turmoil and chaos is the most clear-thinking way to go and is the town’s best interest,” said former selectman Tony LaChapelle in the Wednesday meeting.

Selectmen Lorraine Brue and Jim DeVellis, who both casted the two votes against hearing the proposal on Dec. 13, attended the advisory committee meeting Wednesday evening. Both said that they will ask board chairman Larry Harrington to set up a joint meeting of the two boards next week to discuss the request.

If it is decided by the boards next week that the town should go ahead with a vote, the public hearing on the casino proposal on Jan. 10 would be suspended until the results of the non-binding referendum are in.