Selectmen Vote to Cancel Special Election on Slots Parlor

Selectmen voted unanimously Friday morning to cancel the Sept. 21 special referendum on casino gaming.

The meeting came three days after Special Town Meeting voters turned down a slots-only casino proposed by Penn National Gaming at 300 Ames Pond Drive. 

Town Manager Richard Montuori said the Board had received a letter from Penn National following Special Town Meeting, requesting the Sept. 21 Special Town Meeting be cancelled.

"There really is no statute guiding in this matter regarding what we can or cannot do," Montuori said. "I think we should move ahead and cancel the election and understand the risk that we take.

Montuori said he didn't anticipate any challenges of the cancellation of the election as it was in the best interest of the town to do so. 

Selectman David Gay said he felt canceling the special election was the best way to move forward, as it would be wasteful of town resources to hold it after the vote at Special Town Meeting.

"I think it's a moot point to hold this election," Gay said. "It would be a waste of resources and time. We can finalize this last piece and move on so everyone can get back on the same page."

Selectmen Chair Scott Wilson took a moment at the end of the meeting to thank the other members of the Board for their hard work over the past month in bringing forward an important economic development opportunity to Tewksbury residents.

"I appreciate your efforts. I appreciate that you stood tall in the face of some very negative and disrespectful statements about the Board," Wilson said. "I'm proud of you guys, and I'm proud to sit with you guys.

"I know that our drive is to do nothing more than to make Tewksbury the greatest community it can be," Wilson said. 

You can view the official cancellation notice for the Sept. 21 special election here.