Bingo hall talks between the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and leaders at the Wampanoag tribe are on hold, the MVC chairman said last week.

Doug Sederholm updated his fellow commissioners at the end of the regular MVC meeting last Thursday. Mr. Sederholm said he had received a letter from the tribe notifying him that due to the recent move by Aquinnah to engage a Boston attorney, that the tribe would not be able to continue talks that began last month.

On March 13, a select group of commissioners and tribal leaders met at tribal headquarters in Aquinnah for discussion. Commissioners said later that the session was productive although they declined to discuss details.

Meanwhile, Aquinnah selectmen have retained Douglas Kline of Goodwin as a stalemate continues in town-tribe relations over the bingo hall.

In a letter sent to the tribe last week Mr. Kline questioned whether the bingo hall site, which has already been cleared in preparation for development, is eligible for gaming under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

On Thursday Mr. Sederholm said he had been informed by the tribe’s attorney that in light of the town’s letter, the tribe would no longer be able to engage with the commission for fear of prejudicing their position in the case of potential litigation.

“I take that as a polite way of saying they will not give us any information at this time about what they will do in the future,” he said. “I do not know. They are being careful in light of the town’s contact.”