Editor’s Note: The following is the text of an opinion written by the Aquinnah town counsel for the Aquinnah selectmen.
You have requested that I provide the Aquinnah board of selectmen with an opinion as to whether the Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc. (Aquinnah) can operate a gaming casino in Aquinnah. The simple answer to the question is no.
On Sunday, Nov. 13, there was a gathering at the Aquinnah town hall to thank Walter Delaney for his 17 years of service as the town’s fire chief. Fire chiefs and public safety officials from the various Island towns were present, as was tribal chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais and numerous town officials and residents. Letters of appreciation were read from members of the legislature and Congressman Keating.
Eric Wodlinger, longtime counsel to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Cape Cod Commission, died last week at the age of 62. He had a quiet presence on the Vineyard, but he leaves a large legacy.
During his tenure as the commission’s counsel, Eric effectively advocated for Vineyard interests before Massachusetts courts at all levels, including the superior court, the land court, the court of appeals and the Supreme Judicial Court.
Let me briefly describe a few of the key cases Eric argued for the commission:
Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful Island, a kind of glorious accident of nature. It’s a thriving, vibrant community, a mix of races, classes, and creeds, especially welcoming to presidents. What makes the Vineyard special, what attracts people to it, is that natural beauty and it’s mostly forgotten now how close the Island came to ruin. Forgotten also is the identity of its benefactor: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
Based on my personal experience, I believe that the most important task of our state representative is to protect the integrity, independence, and local control of the Steamship Authority. It is the trump issue in the current race to fill the seat being vacated by Eric Turkington.
Our state representative may be only one of 160 in most legislative matters, but in cases of Steamship Authority business our elected voice really matters.
