For Immediate Release
April 17, 2002

Contact:
Christopher Vaniotis, Esq.
(207) 774-1200
Beryl Wolfe
(207) 775-5115
E-mail: beryl@wolfenews.com
Web Site: http://www.mainelaw.com

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson and the Town of South Berwick will hold an informational seminar on April 24 to explore the role of local governments in the siting of a casino in southern Maine.

The program will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at the South Berwick Municipal Offices. Registration and refreshments will be offered from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Designed for municipal leaders, staff and elected officials, the event is free and the media is welcome. To the extent space is available after all invited governmental representatives have been accommodated, the public can also attend and observe. For additional information or to register, persons may call Lori Carpenter at Bernstein, Shur at 774-1200. Registration at the door will also be accepted on a space available basis.

The presenters will be attorneys from the Municipal and Governmental Affairs Practice Group at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson. They will include attorneys Chris Vaniotis, Pat Scully, Jeff Thaler, Rob Crawford, and Paul Frinsko.

[Note to media: If interested in doing a story prior to seminar or talking to Mr. Vaniotis about the legal pitfalls for towns, feel free to give him a call at 774-1200]

"If a casino is developed anywhere in Maine, it will have profound impacts on both the municipality where it is located and surrounding communities," said Chris Vaniotis, a partner at BSSN and one of the presenters. "We believe that municipal officials, whatever their views on the casino question, need to understand the legal framework for the involvement of local governments in the process. We are especially pleased that our longstanding client the Town of South Berwick joins us in presenting this program."

"This program should be of interest to a variety of municipal officials, including elected selectmen and councilors, managers and administrative assistants, planners and members of land use boards," added Vaniotis.

The topics to be covered include:

- Current status of Maine law governing casino gambling
- The legal status of Indian tribes with respect to development of a casino
- Municipal involvement in the political debate and legislative process
- Municipal involvement in the process of siting a casino
- Municipal regulation of a casino facility
- Kinds of regulatory tools available
- Home rule versus state preemption
- Financial implications for municipalities
- Costs
- Methods of recovering costs
- Revenues
- Financial participation by municipalities
- Security and public safety issues
- Traffic and road issues
- Effects on housing
- Demands on municipal services
- Growth management issues

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson is one of northern New England's largest law firms, with more than 70 attorneys in offices in Portland and Augusta. The firm provides legal services in all major subject areas, including corporate and commercial law, litigation and trials, municipal and governmental affairs, and tax and estate planning. For more information, visit the firm's web site at www.mainelaw.com.

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