By Sue Ellen Woodcock
After getting approval from the finance committee, the town council approved funding to renovate the rink roof, construct locker rooms and purchase a new Zamboni ice machine.
Tuesday night the council granted permission to borrow $600,000 to renovate the roof at the Larsen Skating Rink at Eruzione Center and construction of new locker rooms. In addition $125,560 was approved to be taken from the town’s capitalization fund to purchase a new Zamboni.
Precinct 2 Councilor James Letterie said the Zamboni machine the town now has came from the Boston Garden in 1998. The machine is about 20 years old and for the past few years about $8,000 was spent each year on repairs. It will take nine months before the new machine arrives, but in the meantime a loaner will be used. There is also discussion that the old machine may be kept to be used for heavy work. Letterie added that the old machine is fueled by propane, emitting an exhaust. The new machine will be electric.
“The projects are well worth it,†Letterie said. “For many years the rink was not taken care of. Now we have good leadership and the money. It’s a prudent investment for the town to make.â€
Solar panels will also be installed on the roof of the rink. Letterie said the town will save about $30,000 a year in electricity. The rink currently spends about $70,000 on utilities each year.
He added that with the improvements the rink could also attract more business with the renting of the ice, especially in the afternoons. Last year the rink was rented for 1,500 hours and produced more than $300,000 in revenue.
In other council business:
“This is a long-term relationship,†McKenna said. “The students will be in this week and next.â€
Luca DePhamphillis, 7, with his nina, Pam Evans, hooking a Charmander Pokémon necklace around her…
Retired Winthrop Police Lt. David Lessard, 69 died last Friday after a long battle with…
By Adam Swift The town is looking toward a possible debt exclusion vote in the…
By Adam Swift As part of the Annual Spring Forum on Tuesday night, Town Manager…
Winthrop Police Department Awarded Car Seat Distribution Grant Police Chief John Goodwin is pleased to…
By Adam Swift State and Chelsea officials, along with local nonprofit La Colaborativa, have spent…