Meeting details

Date:  August 10, 2011

Location: Secretary of State’s Office, Blue Spruce Conference Room, 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado

Members Present: Bishop Dan Gincig, Beau Williams, Austin Gomes, Vera Craven, Tom Bednark

Members Absent: Jeanne McEvoy, John Smith, Nick Pizzuti

Secretary of State Officials Present: Mike Hardin, Sarah Steinbeck, Rudy Johnson, Patrick Ryan, Shannon Bee, Brian Gryth

Meeting was called to order at 10:05 A.M. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted.

A motion was made by Austin Gomes to approve the April 13, 2011 meeting minutes as presented.  The motion was seconded by Chairman Gincig and approved by unanimous vote of the Board. 

Secretary of State report

Mike Hardin introduced Sarah Steinbeck as the individual managing the non-profit programs in the Secretary of State's office (Bingo/Raffles and Charitable Solicitations).

Mr. Hardin stated the Rules were finalized late yesterday (8/9/2011).  There were three basic categories under consideration for review.  The first involved cleanup and clarity changes to current rules as well as style changes.  These changes were adopted.  The other two categories considered, but not adopted were 24 number bingo, and Queen of Hearts, both of which would not be allowed under current statute.

Chairman Gincig felt that the decision made by the Secretary of State’s office on the proposed Rules was in direct disregard to all testimony presented at the hearing and all statements of the Board.  He felt the decision was made based on old arguments and not the current information and statements presented.  He personally felt a major fault in the decision on the proposed rules was the denial of the increase in faces from 36 to 54.  Ms. Craven also felt that this decision was not fair and that the 54 face limit should be allowed.  She stated that Colorado is the only State that limits the faces to 36. 

Chairman Gincig felt that if a study was done on who wins more, players on paper or those using machines, it would be found to be about a 50-50 split.  He said he would do a more formal study of this in his hall to verify this statement and present this to the Secretary of State’s office.

Mr. Gomes stated that his sessions are run without electronics and he gets 130-140 players per night that he runs.  With the statistics shown on the financial report from the Secretary of State’s office, increasing the number of faces allowed on the electronic aids is not going to help in the long run. 

Mr. Bednark felt the number of faces should be increased, regardless, because it won’t adversely affect anything.

Chairman Gincig also stated that one issue that had not been included in the Rules, but was requested, was increasing the amount of payout for shared jackpots (going from $2,000 to $5,000).  He would like this looked at by the Secretary of State’s office.

Mr. Williams commented he was very disappointed in the ruling and that more faces should be allowed.  Other states do not limit the number of faces played on electronics.  He felt not enough is being done by the Secretary of State’s office to help the non-profits.

Open discussion

Chairman Gincig reiterated his request to have the Board meeting dates e-mailed to current licensees by the Secretary of State’s office.  Mr. Hardin stated a new program is being rolled out by the office that can send licensees up e-mails on various topics.  He will look at including current bingo/raffle licensees on a distribution list for notifications of Board meetings.

Chairman Gincig next addressed chronic no-shows of members of the Board.  Jeanne McEvoy has already expressed that she wished to resign.  The other member of concern is John Smith.  Chairman Gincig asked what action the Board should take?  Mr. Gomes stated that the Board may wish to contact  members of concern first to discover their intentions concerning their membership on the Board.

Mr. Williams made a motion to report the inactivity of Board members in question to their respective appointing authority in the legislature to see if that member could be removed to open these positions on the Board.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Craven and passed by unanimous decision of the Board. 

Chairman Gincig also asked Mr. Amen contact Mr. Pizzuti as to his intention as to remaining a member of the Board. 

Kathy Gawlikowski, of St Therese School, was very disappointed in the decision on 24 number bingo and the inability to increase the number of faces played.  She felt the players want gadgets, so they go to the casinos.  Licensees would like to offer players new games to bring players back from the casinos and to make money for the non-profits.

Mr. Bednark asked where do they go from here?  How do they move forward with the Rules concerning increasing the number of faces?  Members of the Board asked that the increase in faces be revisited and to try another rule hearing concerning this issue.

Closing

Mr. Bednark moved to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Craven and approved by the Board.

Meeting adjourned at 11:07 A.M.

The next meeting of the Board will be October 19, 2011 at 10:00 at Secretary of State’s Office, Blue Spruce Conference Room, 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado.