Selectmen Looking to Cancel Special Election

Selectmen will meet Friday morning to discuss the cancellation of the Sept. 21 special referendum on casino gaming.

The meeting comes three days after voters turned down a proposed slots-only casino at 300 Ames Pond Drive at Special Town Meeting on Tuesday.

Selectmen Chair Scott Wilson said Town Manager Richard Montuori had contacted the Secretary of the Commonwealth Wednesday to find out if it would be possible to cancel the special election.

"We found they don't encourage the cancellation of elections, but it has been done before through special legislation," Wilson said. 

Town officials are reaching out to State Rep. James Lyons to see if he would champion the special legislation, according to Wilson.

Penn National Gaming had proposed a $200 million slot-only casino at 300 Ames Pond Drive in July. 

Wilson said with the proposal defeated and Penn National moving on, cancellation of the election would be the best way to move forward.

"If there had been a closer outcome  that had made Penn feel like staying here maybe we would have held the election," Wilson said. "Penn has decided to move on."

A majority vote in favor of allowing casino gaming in Tewksbury at the Sept. 21 special election could have given Penn National Gaming a second opportunity to seek approval for proposed zoning changes for the slots-only facility at another Special Town Meeting. 

The host community agreement the town signed with Penn National requires Penn to reimburse the town for the costs of both the Aug. 20 Special Town Meeting and the Sept. 21 special election. 

Penn National Gaming is currently in talks with Plainville town officials about the possibility of moving forward with the Plainridge Racecourse to continue to seek the state's sole slots parlor license, according to a report from the Boston Herald. 

Friday's Selectmen meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Tewksbury Town Hall.