Harrah's, West Warwick Restart Talks

WEST WARWICK, Rhode Island – As reported by the Providence Journal: "Harrah's Entertainment and the Town Council have restarted negotiations on a host-community agreement that could bring in millions of dollars in annual revenue if the Las Vegas company realizes its plan for a casino in the town's industrial park.

"Council President John J. Flynn has pledged to reach an agreement with Harrah's before the November referendum on a state constitutional amendment that would authorize the project.

"He also pledged to publicly release the agreement, which could play a role in the debate over the proposed casino resort. The referendum must be approved by voters statewide and in West Warwick.

"'We've got to leave ourselves 45 days or more [before the referendum] to make sure we can get the document out,' Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer said. 'It needs to be long before the vote so people can get questions answered.'

"Bauer and the town's top negotiator, Christopher E. Friel, held the first negotiating session with Harrah's late last month at Friel's law office in Warwick. Harrah's was represented by a lawyer and by Chris Komanowski, the company's vice president of business development, Bauer said.

"…The host-community agreement would govern the company's payments to the town, which council Vice President Edward A. Giroux, a casino supporter, said could reach $25 million a year. The entire municipal budget for this fiscal year is only $78.3 million, including all spending on education…"