After nearly three years of litigation over a proposed bingo hall culminated in a major court ruling last week in the town’s favor, Aquinnah town leaders looked to reset the cards in their dealings with the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on Tuesday, deciding to write a letter once again inviting the tribe to discuss the facility.

On Thursday the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal district court ruling that requires the tribe to obtain building permits from the town before construction can begin on a proposed bingo hall in Aquinnah.

The buiding permit question has loomed large over the tiny up-Island town since the tribe cleared about four acres of land to build the class II gaming facility approximately two years ago. Construction was frozen when the town filed an injunction asking the district court to issue a judgment requiring the tribe to obtain local permits.

In the time since, the tribe has remained steadfast in its refusal to obtain permits or participate in the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s review process, asserting its sovereignty.

At the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday — the first since the favorable ruling — board members reiterated that they are not opposed to the casino but wanted more information regarding particular aspects of the development.

Discussion was brief.

Selectman Jim Newman suggested the town write a letter to the tribe in an attempt to restart communication.

“I think it’s necessary we reach out to the tribe and invite them back to the table so we can talk, and make it clear that this board of selectmen was never against the casino,” Mr. Newman said.

“We were just trying to work with them so we could cooperate with whatever was going on,” he added “Because whatever they have there is certainly going to impact the town in one way or another and we need to work together.”

Although town and tribal government leaders exchanged a series of volatile letters when construction began on the site two years ago, they have not been in contact since, sparring only in court.

Selectmen Gary Haley agreed with Mr. Newman.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t try to get some communication going between the tribe and the town again,” he said.

Aquinnah town administrator Jeffrey Madison also suggested the selectmen send a letter thanking the attorneys who represented the town. The town retained lawyers from the Boston-based firm Goodwin, including Washington D.C.-based litigator Willie Jay, who argued the case on behalf of the town in front of both the U.S. district and appellate courts.

Selectmen echoed Mr. Madison’s sentiments.

“They did an amazing job,” selectman Juli Vanderhoop said.