I-Team: City addresses casino concerns

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - There's controversy over the consultant Springfield chose to help them with the casino process and whether there's a conflict of interest.

A city counselor wants to know if it violates ethics laws.

"Taunton was well-served by this consultant and got a good deal," said Springfield City Solicitor Ed Pikula.

Pikula defended the city's decision to hire Shefsky and Froelich, a consulting firm that will help negotiate a casino deal in the city.

Only, it's a decision that's not sitting well with some people as the consulting firm has also done business with MGM and Penn National recently, and Hard Rock about 10 years ago, 3 out of 4 gaming companies interested in building in Springfield.

"I feel that's a conflict of interest. I think it's going to be a very biased opinion toward one of their clients," Lysak said.

Ameristar, interested in building at the Westinghouse site in Springfield, is the only Springfield company right now who hasn't done business with the city's consultant.

City Council Vice President John Lysak fears that raises fairness issues and he wants the city to hand over any relevant paperwork.

"What I want to see is any communication he's had with the state ethics commission to see if they've ruled that it wasn't a conflict of interest," Lysak said.

The 22News I-Team spoke with the consultant, Cezar Froelich, who said they didn't violate any laws and the lawyers who personally did business with the companies in other states, won't be doing business in Springfield.

He said they also want to maintain their integrity.

Pikula says one important point is he doesn't want any of the gaming companies dictating who the city can and cannot hire he says hiring this consulting firm was a decision the city made after they saw what the same firm did in Taunton.    

Mayor Sarno and Pikula met with the 22News I-Team when accusations of a conflict of interest surfaced.

Pikula and Sarno say they wanted a consultant who has experience with the big names so they can go into negotiations with power.

"We don't negotiate casino deals. We need to get someone who does that on a national level and we've done that through our RFP process," Pikula said.

"We have to advocate on behalf of the residents, taxpayers, business community, not for someone who's competing. It's an equal playing field right now," said Mayor Domenic Sarno.

Sarno drafted a letter to the Gaming Commission Chair Friday to make them aware of the conflict of interest claims and asks they work with them to help maintain a transparent process.