Judge Dennis Saylor IV<\/a> that the project requires local permits.<\/p>\nThe tribe is also seeking a stay of Saylor\u2019s ruling. If a stay is granted, it may allow construction to resume.<\/p>\n
Saylor said last month the tribe must comply with the local and state permitting process. However, the judge agreed the tribe can operate the casino on its sovereign property.<\/p>\n
In a recent Boston federal court filing, the tribe\u2019s attorney said the Wampanoags \u201cwill be irreparably harmed if the stay is denied.\u201d The tribe needs gaming revenue \u201cto provide essential governmental services to its members.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tribe also estimates it will receive between $3 million and $5 million a year from casino revenue. \u201cEvery day of delay is a delay in funding essential health services, education, housing, social services, cultural protection, police and fire protection, EMT services \u2026 and a multitude of other government services,\u201d attorneys for the tribe claimed in a court document.<\/p>\n
Federal Court Appeal Pending<\/h2>\n
The tribe is also appealing Saylor\u2019s ruling to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. The tribe\u2019s attorneys contend the project does not require local permits but instead needs to comply with requirements found in the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.<\/p>\n
Aquinnah Town Administrator Jeffrey Madison reported to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday the tribe \u201ccontinues to work on the casino\u2026. That is in total contravention of the injunction that the federal court issued two weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tribe Proceeded Out of Safety Concerns<\/h2>\n
But later this week, Wampanoag Tribal Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais said the construction that had been done was for safety reasons. \u201cOur position is that while the tribe and the town disagree on what work needs to be completed in order to ensure the construction site is secured safely, the tribe remains committed to ensuring the safety of the site,\u201d Andrews-Maltais was quoted by the Vineyard Gazette<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cWe are fully complying with the court order and will continue to do so pending our appeal,\u201d she added. \u201cThe tribe is discussing available options to ensure site safety with the town, and we\u2019re optimistic that we will reach an agreement soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lael Echo-Hawk, an attorney with MThirtySix PLLC, a tribal advocacy group representing the Aquinnah tribe, said in a letter sent to one of the town\u2019s attorneys, \u201cWe want to be clear that the tribe\u2019s actions since the issuance of the final judgment have been to shut down the site and to do so in a manner that protects public safety,\u201d the Vineyard Gazette<\/em> reported.<\/strong><\/p>\nAttorneys for the town are attempting to arrange a meeting with Echo-Hawk. The project has already been discussed by members of the regional Martha\u2019s Vineyard Commission (MVC)<\/a>.<\/p>\nBut because the application was incomplete, the MVC recently voted unanimously to deny the casino project. It can still be resubmitted with more details.<\/p>\n
Land was cleared in February for the venue. Electricity to the site was cut in March because the tribe had not gotten an inspection from the town, but the tribe said it wanted to use its own inspector.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe will see what happens next,\u201d Jeffrey Madison told the selectmen during this week\u2019s meeting, according to the Martha\u2019s Vineyard Times<\/em>. \u201cThe tribe has contemptuously ignored the court order to this point.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Leaders of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) promised this week they will halt construction on their Martha\u2019s Vineyard bingo hall. But compliance with a new local order came only after the Massachusetts tribe worked on foundation walls and footings. A local building inspector, Leonard Jason Jr., was allowed by the tribe to visit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":109716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Martha\u2019s Vineyard Tribe Agrees to Stop Construction on Gaming Venue<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n