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Springfield Looks to Balance Ethics and Casino Jobs

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Springfield City Councilor Michael Fenton in City Hall. Fenton proposed an ethics ordinance that would limit public officials' ability to get jobs at a new MGM casino in the city.
Credit MGM Resorts International
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MGM Resorts International
A rendering of the approved MGM casino development in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Springfield, Massachusetts city council will discuss a proposal on Monday night that would restrict the city’s mayor or councilors from working for MGM for at least five years after leaving city employment. Non-elected officials considered “major policymakers” would face a two-year ban.

MGM is to start construction on an $800 million casino in Springfield later this year.

City Council President Mike Fenton said this is about safeguarding public trust. "When you're dealing with the gaming industry coming for the first time in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," he said, "there’s a great deal of rightful scrutiny that comes along with it from the public. We owe it to the community to have the highest standard of ethics, and I believe this ordinance will help us achieve that."

Fenton said the proposed cooling-off periods are longer than both what the state ethics law require, and what the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has in place for its workers.

The blog Western Mass Politics and Insight has some additional detail:

The state Gaming Statute does not bar local officials from taking jobs with gaming companies, but it does bar Massachusetts Gaming Commission members and staff from taking such jobs for a period of years or “cooling-off period.” It is from this section that Fenton derived much of his ordinance. Because the mayor is the bargaining agent for the city and councilors set land use policy, both might be thought of as analogous to the commission members. The casino law does not have a cooling-off period for local officials, but such a provision of the state Ethics Law applies. Municipal employees (which for the purposes of Ethics law, elected officials are no different from appointed ones) cannot, for a period of one year, take employment with a third party if they serve as an agent before that municipality.

Fenton said he's very confident the proposal will pass, but he also acknowledged some councilors want the five-year ban shortened to three years.

This report is part of a partnership with NEPR.net.  and  WAMC/Northeast Public Radio.

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public. She is a longtime reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition and Here And Now. Diane spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.

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