Anne Arundel County Executive John G. Gary is to meet today for the first time with representatives of the Redskins to discuss their beleaguered proposal for a football stadium in Laurel, but the team had better not expect a warm reception.
Mr. Gary said yesterday that he would not authorize spending any county tax money for the proposed $160 million, 78,600-seat stadium. He added, however, that he would try to help the Redskins find alternative sources of money if team officials can convince him that the project would bring money into county coffers.
Lawrence R. Telford IV, Mr. Gary's spokesman, said the county executive had complained that Gov. William Donald Schaefer was "jerked around" for 10 years by various National Football League team owners who hinted they might move to Baltimore.
"We're not going to be jerked around by them [NFL owners] at all," Mr. Telford said.
Gerard E. Evans, a lobbyist recently hired by Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, said today's meeting will be a get-acquainted affair and that the Redskins will not be pitching any specific proposals.
"We just want to assure him that we're on track" and remain committed to building the stadium in Laurel, Mr. Evans said.
He said the Redskins will meet Wednesday with state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., a Prince George's Democrat, and that team officials will meet with newly elected county council members soon.
Mr. Gary said yesterday that he was not feeling particularly warm toward the Redskins, partly because he had seen no evidence that the project would benefit the county economically and partly because he questioned the Redskins' treatment of Dr. Thomas E. Florestano.
Dr. Florestano, retired president of Anne Arundel Community College, resigned as chairman of a pro-stadium task force organized by the Anne Arundel Trade Council after team representatives failed to show up at a Trade Council meeting that was called to talk about helping the Redskins win approval ** for their stadium.
Walter Lynch, the Redskins' project manager for the stadium, said yesterday that the team continues to work on traffic studies and other reports needed for the Redskins' appeal of a county zoning officer's October decision that the stadium site is too small.
The team recently dismissed James Lacher, who had been helping coordinate the Laurel stadium project, fired lobbyist Alan Rifkin and hired his former partners, Mr. Evans and Joel D. Rozner.
Dr. Florestano said yesterday that the hiring of Mr. Evans and Mr. Rozner gave the stadium lobbying effort a "very, very strong Prince George's mystique."
Mr. Evans is chairman of the Democratic Party in Prince George's. Mr. Rozner once was chief of staff for Gov.-elect Parris N. Glendening.
Mr. Florestano said alternative stadium sites in Prince George's County, such as near the USAir Arena in Landover, have been mentioned in meetings.
However, Mr. Evans said yesterday, "There's absolutely nothing to that . . . Our one and only site is Laurel, period. We're confident that we're going to succeed there."