If the lawyers involved in crafting the latest land claim agreement with the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York are correct, the Cayuga County Legislature will vote on whether to accept the settlement this month.

That fact was part of the May 23 announcement that a deal was struck.

It's now more than a week since that information came out, yet the Legislature has done nothing to inform the public about precisely when or how it will make this monumental decision.

By now we would have expected lawmakers to at least formally reach out to the public for its feedback. Ideally, they would have scheduled a public hearing on the matter - one that would be held a couple of weeks before any vote.

They also could have solicited written opinions from residents, via letter, e-mail or fax.

Maybe that's part of the plan, but we just don't know.

Instead what we've pretty much heard is silence. And that is grossly irresponsible.

The Legislature needs to formally publicize a process for handling this decision. That starts with Chairman George Fearon, R-Springport, a longtime land claim settlement opponent who has refused to speak with reporters about this latest development.

His reaction demonstrates a complete lack of leadership.

This is a deal that, among other things, involves the potential for a casino in the community, that gives the Cayugas the opportunity to take up to 10,000 acres off the tax rolls in Cayuga and Seneca counties and that effectively blocks the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma from doing anything in this state.

It also could mark the beginning of the end of more than two decades of legal battles with the Cayugas.

These are important issues. This Legislature better not plan to treat this matter like a routine item on the monthly meeting agenda.