No Casino On Hopkinton's Mind as Legislators Visit

Hopkinton's state legislative delegation, Sen. Karen Spilka of Ashland and Rep. Carolyn Dykema of Holliston, both of whom are Democrats, told selectmen Tuesday night that casino legislation is unlikely to be resurrected this year.

You Can Comment on Redistricting

On other topics, Spilka invited interested residents to a redistricting forum at Framingham State University on Saturday, June 18, in the Forum Room at the McCarthy Center, 100 State St. Residents can comment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on redrawing the state's congressional districts.

Residents can also email their redistricting comments here.

Spilka is a member of the Special Senate Committee on Redistricting

The 2010 Federal Census resulted in the loss of one congressional district in the state, because of Massachusetts' low population growth relative to other states. Even if it had not lost a seat in Congress, the state is congressionally redistricted every 10 years to reflect population shifts within its borders.

Worst May Be Over

Spilka also made a pitch for the state's economic recovery, saying she expects fiscal 2012nwill be the worst for reductions in local aid. She added she hopes to include incentives for communities to regionalize services in future budgets.

Spilka is the Senate Chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, and  Senate Chairwoman of the Jobs Creation Commission. 

The fiscal 2012 budget, which starts July 1, has not yet been passed by the legislature and approved by the governor. The deadline is June 30.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Reorganized

Spilka also praised Hopkinton DPW Director John Westerling, who was hired this winter, for being a quick study during his participation in meetings of the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization, whose processes she said "are among the most complicated and opaque procedures."

The MPO acts as a map for the federal government and distribution agent for federal money in local infrastructure projects.

Spilka, who serves on the Joint Committee on Transportation,  said there is an ongoing restructuring of the MPO, which could negatively affect transportation budgets in MetroWest.

Preparing for Post-Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans

Dykema, who last year was named Legislator of the Year by the state's veterans, noted that Anthony Mastroianni, the veterans agent for Hopkinton, Hopedale, Holliston, Medway and Norfolk for more than 40 years, is retiring.

She said Mastroianni's retirement may be an opportunity to re-align veterans services for the town of Hopkinton with those of Holliston, Ashland and Medway, particularly with the large number of veterans expected from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Unsung Heroines

Dykema also noted, as selectmen did before her arrival, that selectmen's executive assistant Geri Holland has been recognized by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as one of 100 Unsung Heroines in the state.

Hopkinton's Margie Wiggin, a member of the Hopkinton Cultural Council (a grant-awarding entity), Girl Scout leader and volunteer for the Hopkinton Youth Commission, was also named an Unsung Heroine.

Casino Opposition

Though Spilka assured selectmen that it is unlikely any casino legislation will be considered before the state budget deadline, board members reiterated their opposition to a casino in Milford, which apparently is interested in siting one.

Brian Herr, a former selectman who recently was re-elected to the board, had talked earlier in the meeting, before Spilka's and Dykema's arrival, of his opposition to an area casino.

Selectmen Chairman Todd Cestari asked the legislators to include in any casino-enabling legislation the ability of communities to have a say if one of their neighbors seeks a casino.

Spilka has supported a provision in the  past to keep casinos from being built within 40 miles of each other. 

"If the state is going to go that route, the only way I could see it is if they are spread across the state," Spilka said. 

After the meeting, Cestari and Selectman Ben Palleiko spoke of devastating effects to local businesses and residents if a casino is built in a neighboring town.

One town gets all the economic benefit and its neighbors get the problems, including the shuttering of local restaurants and businesses as people frequent the casino, Palleiko said.

Cestari noted a moral responsibility for legislators to prevent a single town from reaping a windfall while devastating its neighbors.