Saugus puts rink in play

SAUGUS – The bid is out for someone to take over Kasabuski Arena.Town Meeting members voted last week to allow Town Manager Andrew Bisignani to seek legislation that would extend the town’s lease on Kasabuski Arena. The idea behind the extension is to make the rink attractive enough to another entity that it would want to step in and run it.In turn, that entity would pay off a $650,000 deficit that is riding on the back of the rink.Although the special legislation needed to extend the lease has neither been drafted nor approved, Bisignani said that doesn’t preclude him from putting out a Request for Proposals on the rink.”We can put it out,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we have to award it.”In the RFP, Bisignani is looking for someone to maintain the 42,877 square foot rink, which includes a parking lot, Zamboni, ice edger, 4 computers and 30 pairs of skates. That means they can’t sublet the building and turn it into a skateboard park or driving range.The proposal states that it is essential the town retain the services of a “professionally managed, expertly maintained and properly staffed,” ice rink.The RFP also calls for the subtenant to be responsible for all capital repairs and replacement, which is in part how the rink incurred its deficit.Over the last few years, rink management has had to foot the bill for several capital expenses, despite the fact that the state owns the building. Revenue from ice time rentals could not keep up with the expenditures and resulted in the $650,000 deficit.While the RFP requires bidders to have ice rink management experience and promise to be solvent and hire experienced help, it does not mention specifics that were important to town officials such as rates for Saugus users.However, Bisignani said issues such as making sure the town’s youth teams are cut some pricing slack would be addressed in the negotiations, not the RFP.The RFP must be awarded and a lease agreement would then be drawn up, pending negotiations. Per vote of Town Meeting Monday, the finalized contract will have to be posted on the town’s Web site to give residents a chance to view it and offer their input. The Board of Selectmen will then have to vote on it before the deal is finalized.Bisignani said if for some reason his request to extend the lease is turned down by the state then he will go to Plan B, which has yet to be determined.