Yesterday Senator Joyce announced that he has filed an amendment that would offer the Ulin rink to Milton for $1 a year for up to 25 years.

There is already lease language regarding the Ulin rink in the Senate Ways and Means budget. The amendment clarifies that the Town of Milton has the right of first refusal for up to 25 years. The original language left open opportunity that another non-profit could also make a bid.

The amendment gives the Town of Milton an absolute first right to the rink. This would be similar to the bill that Timilty sponsored in the House. That bill would offer the town exclusive rights to lease for 10 years. We have a request for confirmation pending with Timilty’s office.

The town upon obtaining the lease would then have the option of sub-leasing the rink to a third-party to manage. If the town opted not to take advantage of this opportunity, a non-profit organization from within the Town of Milton (such as Milton Youth Hockey or the Milton Boosters) would then be given the same opportunity. Only after the Town of Milton or a Milton non-profit decides to not bid does the bidding process then open to private companies.

Joyce advocates that the town bid out the management to a firm with expertise in rink management. “I am convinced that we can save taxpayers an excess of $10 million over 25 years, generate an estimated $2.5 million in new revenue for the town over 25 years, and provide our children with more than twice as much ice availability by operating year round, at a reduced rate,” said Senator Joyce.

He references ene operator who has already offered the Town of Milton a guaranteed minimum of $50,000 per year in revenue to manage Ulin, and that they estimate that figure could grow to $100,000 per year.  By allowing Milton to sub-lease the rink to a 3rd party (such as a professional rink management company), Joyce believes residents can be sure that the popular recreational facility will remain open to the public with increased ice times, better facilities, and reasonable rates, while providing new revenue to the town.

There is an ad hoc group in town led by Tim Kernan that is also interested in managing the rink. This group has appeared before the Selectmen on several occasions and is given a lot of credit by the Selectmen for educating them on the issue and the benefits of town control of the rink as well as being vocal advocates for the town’s interests regarding the issue. They propose to form a non-profit foundation that would manage the rink. Selectman Sweeney has expressed support for the non-profit concept. His concern is that a 3rd party’s profit driver would compromise the town’s need for continued access at a reasonable cos.

The rink is in good physical condition. The primary problem with the rink is its well above average energy consumption.

If the amendment is adopted into the Senate budget next week, the matter then heads to budget conference committee prior to going before the Governor for his approval. If the town assumes the lease terms would likely be negotiated and the town would issue an RFP for the management of the rink.