Saugus yet to break ice on rink deal

SAUGUS – The fate of Kasabuski Arena is still in flux despite efforts to finalize the sublease deal.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said he had hoped the negotiations would be settled and the rink management would be in new hands by now, but working out the details is taking longer than expected.Bisignani sat down with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Kasabuski Partnership of Lynnfield last week to hammer out contract details that would result in the partnership taking over the rink.”The old lease was five pages; this one is 50,” Bisignani said. “The devil is always in the details.”Bisignani said one of the sticking points is that the DCR would like to bring the partnership under its umbrella with the other 28 rinks it sublets. Kasabuski, however, poses a unique situation in that the lessees are laying out a considerable sum for the opportunity to run the rink.As part of the deal, the partnership will pay the town $725,000 to cover a rink deficit. On top of that, it will also have to spend upwards of $1 million on improvements and repairs to the rink.”The state is looking to protect its interest and the partnership is looking to protect its interest,” Bisignani said. “And the town is caught in the middle trying to protect its interest.”Bisignani said he is optimistic that the issues will be settled soon. With the start of the hockey season only weeks away, he is hoping it will be settled before the end of the month.”Rep. (Mark) Falzone has also played a pivotal role in getting this settled,” Bisignani added. “We’ve met several times on this and he’s come to all the meetings. This might have sunk if not for him.”