County okays new casino consultants

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County legislators on July 17 agreed to spend up to $35,000 for consultants to assist in the preparation of new environmental data, which federal authorities are expected to seek, and review updated environmental materials forthcoming from the three Indian nations currently seeking to build casinos in Sullivan County.

The Albany legal firm of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna, cited as experts in environmental law, were awarded a $25,000 contract to review environmental assessments filed by the various tribes, as required by state and federal law.

George Bucci, of Global Network Enterprises, was given a $10,000 contract to coordinate and prepare any new impact analysis which Sullivan County’s Casino Advisory Committee might produce.

The two contracts, resulting from an Executive Committee meeting earlier in the day, were approved by identical 6-2 party-line votes. Legislator James Carnell (R-9) was absent, as Democrats Chris Cunningham (DC-1) and Kathy LaBuda (D-2) were opposed.

Cunningham earlier issued a memo to his colleagues and the media decrying the Republican majority’s use of a 30-minute caucus at the beginning of the committee meeting.

The minority leader called the caucus inappropriate and insulting to others in attendance and said that following the caucus any input by anyone outside the caucus would not matter.

Cunningham did not recall any similar action by a Democrat majority, but in July 2001, the Democrats held a similar in-meeting caucus, while the legislature was deciding how to spend the county’s share of the national tobacco settlement.

As to the selection of the consultants, Cunningham said federal authorities have yet to issue any guidelines on what new information will be needed or the process to prepare it. “It seems premature to hire a firm [Bucci] without any experience in Indian gaming,” he said.

Majority leader Rodney Gaebel said that Sullivan had little time to waste in preparing documentation. Gaebel said that with the new court decision, upholding the 2001 state legislation authorizing casinos in Sullivan County, important decisions could be made at the state level at any time.

Gaebel spoke of Supreme Court Justice Teresi’s recent and long-awaited decision overturning a lawsuit by casino opponents, who had challenged the constitutionality of the 2001 law. Teresi upheld it, but opponents are expected to appeal.

Teresi’s decision prompted Thompson Supervisor Anthony Cellini to blast the Pataki administration for project delays stemming from negotiating tactics by the governor’s office. Cellini referred to Pataki’s decision not to negotiate with tribes currently based outside New York State, despite their historic roots. Cellini charged that Donald Trump and Atlantic City are the only beneficiaries of this policy.

At last week’s monthly meeting, the legislature also authorized $8.8 million in bonds for various public works projects including $2.1 million for road construction, $1.65 million for a new Division of Public Works shop on Route 17B, $2 million for Monticello Landfill expansion costs and $1.5 million for machinery and equipment at Sullivan County Community College.

The legislature also approved a mass gathering permit for the upcoming Ben and Jerry’s One World, One Heart Festival at the Woodstock site in Bethel.