Windsor Locks — Both naysayers and casino proponents were well represented here Tuesday night at a public hearing the town's Board of Selectmen held prior to potential negotiations with southeastern Connecticut's casino-owning Indian tribes.

Windsor Locks is one of four municipalities that responded to the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes' request for casino proposals, an early step in the tribes' bid to develop a casino in the Hartford area. The Connecticut Airport Authority, operator of Bradley International Airport, and Sportech Venues, which operates the Bradley Teletheater, an off-track-betting facility at the airport, have expressed interest in a Windsor Locks casino.

The hearing's ground rules, as outlined by First Selectman Chris Kervick, called for speakers to address only the "concept" of a casino and what the town should seek in the potential negotiations.

Kervick abandoned a presentation that involved specifics after some residents objected. Others decried the lack of concrete details about the proposals.

"We don't need it in Windsor Locks," William Leary, a former state representative and longtime probate judge, said, drawing applause.

He said the tribes' Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun have struggled since their early days and that the areas around casinos are typically plagued by such social ills as elevated crime rates, evictions, mortgage foreclosures, spousal abuse and prostitution.

"They're not the gravy train we're all looking for," Leary said.

The town's current state representative and another former lawmaker from the town were far more positive about the impact of an airport casino. Rep. Peggy Sayers said such a development would create jobs and tax revenue for the town and called Bradley "the perfect location."

She urged the selectmen to enter into negotiations with the tribes, which, if successful, would lead to a townwide referendum.

Carl Schiessl, who represented Windsor Locks in the state House from 1986 to 1998, seemed to regard the negotiations as inevitable.

"We have legalized gambling in Connecticut," he said. "The question is what's in it for Windsor Locks."

He suggested the town should angle for payments for infrastructure improvements.

Other speakers noted that Revere, Mass., had negotiated promises of lucrative payments during negotiations with Mohegan Sun, which unsuccessfully pursued a plan to locate a casino there.

George H. Rowe IV, a longtime resident of Windsor Locks, flatly stated that a casino was "a bad idea," warning that short-term economic gains would not outweigh the long-term "human costs."

Several union tradesmen, who wore green T-shirts that said "CT Jobs Matter," voiced support for a casino.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck