Penobscot Nation chief says Fairfield 'almost a perfect
fit' for resort casino
Copyright © 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
FAIRFIELD — When it
comes to hosting an Indian resort casino, the town of Fairfield is not a perfect match — but it
comes close, according to Barry Dana, chief of the Penobscot Nation.
"Like anything that's going to work, it has to be a perfect fit —that's the best option," Dana, 44, said. "A perfect fit would have to be Kittery, off the Interstate and close to Boston."
But several points make Fairfield almost a perfect fit, said Dana, who was born in Old Town but now lives in Solon in Somerset County, where he has room for his 16 husky dogs.
Fairfield has ample land that straddles Interstate 95 and water and sewer lines that extend to that area, according to town officials. Another plus is the fact that residents voted Nov. 5 to have the town look into the possibility of bringing an Indian resort casino to town.
In proposing their estimated $400 million to $600 million casino and resort, Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribal leaders have said they will not attempt to locate in a community where they are not wanted.
"When I told the tribe that Fairfield had voted to talk about the idea, the tribe said, 'Where's Fairfield?' " Dana said. "I said, 'Right off the Interstate.' That puts it close to a good fit."
The two tribes have long sought to establish a casino in Maine as a way to finance needed housing, schools, jobs and other amenities for their membership.
But stipulations of the Indian Land Claims Act of 1980 so far have prevented casino gambling in Maine.
In return for giving up their claims to more than 12.5 million acres in northern and eastern Maine and up to $25 billion in damages, the Penobscots and Passamaquoddy tribes each received a $13.5 million trust fund and $26.6 million for purchase of 150,000 acres in the state's unorganized territories.
The tribes also gave up their sovereignty in establishing gambling casinos.
A challenge to the act by Maine's Indian tribes in 1994 to build a casino in Calais, in Washington County, was defeated in the Legislature and again in U.S. District Court and the federal Court of Appeals.
Dana said that challenge and any future challenge to the Claims Act settlement can succeed if there is agreement between the state and the tribes. So far that has not happened, he said.
Regardless of where a proposed casino would go, state officials have said the tribes or any other group in Maine would need to get a bill passed by the state Legislature to allow casino gambling.
Voters this month in Sanford and in Fairfield said "Yes" to non binding referendum questions on casino gambling in their respective towns.
Think About It, a Portland-based political action committee representing the tribes, has said out-of-state money is expected to make up 85 percent of the revenues at a Maine casino, which makes its proximity to Boston a major factor.
Fairfield is more than three hours north of Boston. Sanford is less than two hours north of Boston, but is seven miles away from the Interstate, according to Dana.
Dana said he has not yet heard from Fairfield town officials.
"The town is receptive to a casino, that's a big plus," Dana said. "That is more than enough reason for the two entities to get together and talk."
Dana said tribal leaders are open to meeting with Fairfield officials if the town is interested in pursuing the idea of a casino.
"We could go to Fairfield to explain the project and give them an idea of what it would look like," he said. "There needs to be a contact made."
Doug Harlow — 861-9244
dharlow@centralmaine.com