The River Reporter, October 5, 1995

Oneidas seeks alternative casino site

By TOM RUE MONTICELLO - Oneida Indian Nation (OIN) representative Carol Trimble got a taste of Monticello squabbling upon appearing as featured speaker at the October 2 village board meeting.

Trimble came to answer questions in the wake of Watermark Investments' announcement last week that they stopped negotiating with the Oneidas to convert Monticello Raceway into a casino.

Tired of waiting to hear from Governor George Pataki, Trimble said OIN will submit a proposal directly to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Pataki will have 30 days to act, she said.

Targeting the end of 1995 to file a proposal with DOI, Trimble said a parcel must be identified before the plan can be filed. "There's land. There's plenty of land," she said, stating the tribe has been "inundated" with calls -- including at least one offer to donate property.

She declined to comment on reports Watermark has entered into negotiations with the St. Regis Mohawk tribe. Mohawk tribal council leaders have been quoted as saying they never heard of Watermark Investments Ltd., who said he had been in touch with former chief David Jacobs.

Jacobs lost a tribal election last month.

Trimble said the Oneidas -- who have invested "well over a half a million dollars already" -- are not about to walk away from Sullivan County.

Mayor Robert Friedland -- a leading proponent of legal gaming -- pointed out there would be nothing to prevent both tribes from opening casinos.

Although Trimble started off by saying the Oneidas "hope to stay within Monticello and the Town of Thompson," trustee Gary Sommers stunned casino advocates by attacking the OIN agreement -- based on the fact mayor Robert Friedland sat on the Sullivan County Casino Gaming Advisory Board (CGAB).

Sommers said serving on the CGAB was a manager's function which Friedland had usurped, rendering the entire agreement void.

Trimble disagreed. "That agreement holds."

The 32-member CGAB is headed by board of supervisors chair Andrew Boyar. "The feeling at the time was that Monticello should have been the lead agency," Sommers claimed, adding that Cummings should have led the negotiations.

Cummings served briefly on the CGAB but resigned, claiming it posed a conflict of interest for him as village manager. Friedland wrote to persuade Cummings to remain on the board, but Cummings refused.

"We had no legal negotiator. If we didn't really negotiate on the subject, then there's no agreement," Sommers told Trimble.

Appearing surprised, Trimble replied, "If you don't feel the financial deal is good enough, then we're open."

Sommers did not cite specific problems with the compact, except to object to Friedland being on the panel. After the meeting Trimble commented, "It's clear there are some unresolved issues on the village board at least... If the village doesn't want us here, there are other places in Sullivan County that do."

OIN has pledged an annual $2.5 million to a Community Development Fund -- including $500,000 each for the village and county, and $2000 per new child in aid to local schools.

Sommers denied his objections were political, adding that "as a Republican, [party chairperson] Greg Goldstein is not going to be too happy about my comments here tonight."

During the meeting Sommers shouted profanities and other insults at Friedland's wife Betty -- in the audience, in response to comments he overheard her making to a woman seated near her. Trustee Michael Levinson asked that the minutes reflect that he was "embarrassed" by Sommers' behavior.

In response, Sommers had to be physically restrained by his father, Seymour Sommers, 76, who grabbed his sleeve to prevent him from hitting Levinson as the younger Sommers screamed.

Friedland banged the gavel repeatedly as village attorney Martin Miller stepped in to help prevent a brawl. Sommers left the dais, spending the rest of the meeting sullenly in the audience but still voting.

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