The River Reporter, 1995

Monticello wants video slot machines

By TOM RUE
MONTICELLO - Gamblers at Monticello Raceway may soon have the option of playing video lottery games in addition to betting on horses, if a bipartisan bill passes the NYS legislature.

Monticello village officials are supporting the measure.

Village trustees voted unanimously on February 6th to support the pilot measure, at the request of manager William Cummings who said the bill will be cosponsored in Albany by assemblymen Jacob Gunther (D-Forestburgh) and David Townsend (R-Utica).

Gunther and Townsend both sit on the Racing & Wagering Committee in the NYS Assembly.

The measure will to test the market for casino gambling in Sullivan County, Cummings said. "Here in Monticello it would not only be a boost for a racetrack, but a boost for our local shops and hotels due to increased attendance," he added.

A legislative memo in support of the bill cites declining attendance at racetracks statewide -- caused by increasing popularity of off-track betting and the establishment of nearby casino gambling.

As proposed, slot machines will accept bets ranging from 25c to $2, with prizes not to exceed $500. Machines will be permitted to dispense winning tickets, to be redeemed for free games or cash to winners, but not actual coins as in many casinos.

If authorized, operation of the machines would be overseen by the NYS Racing & Wagering Board, which will receive 8% of all bets placed on the machines, according to the draft bill.

Monticello is one of several locations covered by the proposed bill -- along with sites in the Finger Lakes, Saratoga Springs, New York City, central and western regions of NYS.

After a three-year trial, the law would sunset on December 31, 1998 unless reauthorized.

Fire District discussed
Cummings reported on recent interactions with the Thompson town board, negotiating the ratio of the municipal split in support of the existing Monticello fire department.

Historically, the split has been 50/50, but the village hopes town officials will agree to pick up a greater share, due to the size difference. A counter-argument noted by Cummings is that a majority of firefighting volunteers reside in the town, outside village limits.

A compromise being considered is the creation of a fire district, independent of both the village and the town, Cummings said. "My personal opinion is that the taxpayers overall are benefited, and I think the fire service is better with a fire district."

The board authorized Mayor Robert Friedland to meet with Thompson Supervisor Anthony Cellini to negotiate short-term cost sharing. Cummings will join Friedland at the meeting and assist with fact-gathering on the proposed fire district. Input from department members and employees will also be sought on the proposal, village trustees agreed.

"It's a long process. I don't think it's going to be solved overnight. It might be beneficial. It might not. We'll put it all together and see what happens," Friedland said of the proposal.

License granted to Playland Arcade
The village board approved an application by Mark J. Zurlo of Middletown for an amusement game ownership license after hearing a favorable report on a background investigation on Zurlo by police chief Michael Brennan.

Zurlo recently purchased the Playland Video Arcade at 296 Broadway from Philip Walter of Fallsburg, who said he has operated arcades in downtown Monticello and elsewhere around the county for 38 years. Walter, who was present at the meeting, supported Zurlo's successful application.

In other business
  • Luis A. Velasco was introduced as the village's newest police officer. Valasquez, 24, the department's first bilingual Spanish-speaking officer, is a graduate of Monticello High School and has a BA from SUNY, Brennan said. Cummings explained that Valasco was hired with a grant called "Cops Fast," as part of last year's federal crime bill. Funds for new police cars and other items will be sought under related funding, he added.

  • Public hearings were held on proposed grant applications for $400,000 to finance renovation of low-income housing on High Street, in cooperation Rural Sullivan County Housing Opportunities, Inc. Cummings said the grants would complement similar amounts received to fix sewers in the same neighborhood.

  • Cummings said he hopes to complete re-payment of the village's outstanding tax anticipation notes by March 1st, crediting the village attorney and other employees with collection efforts. Cummings stated repayment will improve the village's bond rating and reduce taxes in the long run.

  • Board were told by the village attorney that the village manager's employment contract is still in progress, but should be completed soon.

  • Praising the dedication of seven public works employees for plowing the roads during last week's snowstorm, the board agreed to send letters thanking them for working double shifts.

  • The board retreated to executive session, reportedly to discuss: a lawsuit with Sullivan County involving testimony by an engineer; a second matter of pending litigation; adherence to the Village Code by a particular employee; and union contract negotiations.

  • The meeting recessed until February 13th, 7:00 P.M., when the matter of litigation with the county is to be discussed in further detail, according to Cummings.

  • Board members were told of the delivery of two new Ford Tauruses, at $17,000 each, for use by Cummings and Brennan. The chief's old car reportedly had 130,000 miles and will be junked; while the manager's will be turned over the building inspector.

  • Payment of $2,600 to Kerber Electric was approved for improvements to the village water treatment plant, including addition of an on-site lab, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to Cummings.



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