Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno is booting the three historical commission members who previously opposed MGM’s design plans. The mayor’s office denies there’s a connection.
Ralph Slate is one of three commissioners who voted against MGM’s proposal for what to do with historic properties on the site of the casino, including demolishing the old YWCA building on Howard Street. Now, in a letter dated the day after Sarno’s re-election, Slate says the mayor thanked the members for their service and wished them well in future endeavors.
“I honestly don’t know what went into his thought as far as this decision,” Slate says. “The only thing that I can note is that the three commissioners who voted against one of the MGM proposals back in March of 2015 were the three who were sent this letter.”
A spokesperson for Sarno says the commission changes have nothing to do with the casino and says changes to other city boards will be announced in the coming days. He also noted the three commissioners’ terms had expired.
According to city documents, the terms of several others have also expired. But Sarno has so far kept them in place.