Council Approves Funding for Rink Improvements

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.”

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:

• Town Manager James McKenna received a letter from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation congratulating the town on being selected as a partner for the Spring 2016 Innovation Field Lab. Other communities selected include Lawrence, Fitchburg, Chelsea and Salem. Students from the Ash Center will work side-by-side with town departments. While a common topic in this project is “problem properties” the focus is broader. By helping cities and towns better address their challenged buildings, the Ash Center will work to improve safety, public health, a sense of community and overall quality of life.

“This is a long-term relationship,” McKenna said. “The students will be in this week and next.”

• A petition has been submitted to the council the end duck hunting in Winthrop. A petition with 50 signatures on it was handed in. The authors said duck hunting is dangerous in Winthrop, coming close to homes, cars and boats. It was noted that the ducks are often hand fed during the rest of the year making them more vulnerable during hunting season. Chief Delehanty reminded hunters that they need to be 500 feet from shore and life preservers are required. The petition was forwarded to the Ordinance Review Committee.
• Three properties in town are seeking SDOD (Special Development Overlaw District) status. The owners of the property a 142 Pleasant St., a former nursing home, seek to create 12-unit building. The Planning Board did vote 5-2 Monday night and recommended the SDOD be approved. The council will hold a hearing during its meeting on Dec. 15 . The owners of 60 Hermon St. are still before the Planning Board. At this point the plans call for five units, two townhouse units and three singles. They will use a sensor system so driver’s do not run into each other in the driveway. At 15-17 Walden St., the owner has resubmitted an application for an SDOD. It will go before the Planning Board.