Nonprofits question council decision to deny video poker license

SANFORD, MAINE -- Norman Hutchins, president of the Wolves Social Club in Sanford, and other members of the town's fraternal organizations appeared before the Sanford town council on Dec. 18 to ask the council to reconsider an application from the Wolves Club for five video poker games.

"The council approved an application from the Knights of Columbus in October. Ours was denied in December. What happened?" Hutchins asked.

"I assume you're not singling us out," he continued. "The rest of these clubs are here because they're wondering why they're not going to get theirs."

"There was an election," town council chairwoman Anne-Marie Mastraccio said. "The make up of the council changed."

The council voted 3-4 on Dec. 4 on a motion to approve the club's application. Councilors Maura Herlihy, Gordon Paul, Alan Walsh and Kevin Chabot were opposed.

Hutchins argued that nonprofit social organizations like the Amvets, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Knights of Columbus rely on the proceeds from video poker, special tournaments, alcohol sales and other fundraisers to support their charitable giving.

"The money we make we turn back into the community," Hutchins said.

Besides donating to such regional and national programs as the Red Cross, United Way and Maine Children's Cancer Program, locally the Wolves Social Club sponsors the Sanford-Springvale Youth Athletic Association, the Sanford Mainers and Waban Projects, Inc., he said.

But, according to Hutchins, a lot of the work the club does goes unseen.

"There's no other agency that does what we do," he said. "People know that when they can't get help from the town or the state, they can come to us, and often times we can get them the help they need the next day."

Despite the arguments presented by club members, Councilor Maura Herlihy, who has consistently voted against applications for video poker games, said Wednesday she would like to see detailed information that proves the earnings are actually going to charity instead of toward the cost of operating the club itself.

There is also some question, she said, about whether or not clubs are "paying out" on video poker games "from behind the bar."

According to Hutchins, the games are closely monitored by state police, and evidence of misuse of funds is immediately prosecuted. When Maine State Police had a crackdown on video poker in 2000, Hutchins said, the Wolves club was audited and investigated along with all the others.

"We were found in compliance with all the laws," he said.

"It's a license to raise money," Sanford resident Perry Wood said. "If there's a legal problem, let the law enforcement community handle it."

James Batchelder, state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, concluded, "What criteria do we have to satisfy to get our licenses and continue to serve the community?"

According the council's rules of procedure, the Dec. 4 motion to approve the Wolves Club's application for five video poker games could only be reconsidered at the next meeting on Dec. 18. In addition, a motion to reconsider could only come from one of the councilor's who voted against the application originally.

A motion by council vice chairman Joe Hanslip to add a motion to approve the club's application to the Dec. 18 agenda failed 4-3, with councilors Herlihy, Paul and Walsh opposed. In order to add an agenda item during a meeting, the motion must pass unanimously, the chairwoman explained.

"Gordon (Paul) and I have consistently voted against video poker games," Herlihy said. "And if you look at Alan's voting record (from his previous term on the council), you'll see that he has consistently voted against them, too."

Herlihy, who is well-versed in the town charter and the rules of procedure, said she believes it would make the most sense for the club to reapply for the license, which would allow them to operate video poker games Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008.

"I think if it came up again, one of the councilors (who voted against it Dec. 4) could go the other way," she said.

News Added: 26 December, 2007

Number of views : 1133