Indeed, Foxborough officials are convinced that the developers will forge ahead, despite the opposition, in hope of winning supporters. But it shows how steep a battle Kraft and Wynn could face if they want a casino near the Foxborough sports and entertainment complex.
Under the new state law allowing casino gambling, a developer has to win the support of voters in a referendum to be eligible to apply for one of three casino licenses.
But before a casino package can be considered by a town’s voters, an agreement has to be negotiated with local leaders.
The vote by Foxborough selectmen made it clear they are not interested in talking.
“There absolutely will not be casino gambling in any community that does not want it,’’ said Stephen P. Crosby, the recently appointed head of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which will ultimately award the licenses. “The governor and the Legislature were slam-dunk clear on that point.’’
Crosby pointed out that there is nothing in the law that requires a town that opposes a casino proposal to hold a referendum to reject it.
Still, town officials said they do not expect Wynn and the Kraft Group to back down.
“We would hope that in light of such an overwhelming negative response, that they would take a message from that, respect it, and go away,’’ said Town Manager Kevin Paicos.
“But those are all nonbinding . . . and no one can say in truth that it represents the will of the voters,’’ he said. “Our supposition is that they will ignore the board’s vote and that they will go forward.’’
Yesterday, a procasino group, Jobs for Foxboro, posted on its Facebook page the telephone number, home address, and e-mail address of Selectman Mark Sullivan, whose swing-vote decision to oppose the casino proposal doomed it.
“Please contact him and let him know that residents want to see a proposal on the table before making a decision,’’ the group urged.
Sullivan, who was inundated with calls yesterday, said the pressure on local officials facing a $1 billion casino resort proposal is “just massive.’’
