Kasabuski Rink back out to bid as first deal stalls

SAUGUS – With months of negotiations seemingly at a standstill, the Kasabuski Ice Rink has gone back out to bid.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani was quick to add that the Kasabuski Partnership of Lynnfield is still negotiating with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.In the meantime, Bisignani said he’s changed up the language of the bid specifications to see if the town would get any other bites.”It just gives more latitude,” he said. “The bids will be opened Sept. 3.”Bisignani said the wording of the initial bid was somewhat restrictive. His hopes with the second bid process are that the looser language might give an entity more leeway in negotiations.The partnership was awarded the initial bid at the end of May after it agreed to pay $725,000 to cover the town’s deficit. Bisignani said at the time the partnership managed to answer all the concerns raised by various groups, including concerns regarding the future of Saugus High School, Youth Hockey and the baseball field. They also made assurances that services in regards to the local hockey programs and access to the baseball field would continue. They apparently have not been able to assure DCR of all its concerns, however.Selectman Michael Kelleher said he feels there is a lot of misinformation circulating regarding the fate of Kasabuski and asked Bisignani during a meeting last week if he could dispel any of the misconceptions.”We are exploring several alternatives,” he said.He also said that if push came to shove and the town had to pay off the deficit, “I believe we have the resources to do it without reaching into the FY ’09 budget. We do have a surplus.”Bisignani said he would rather use the excess funds for other services, but if the town has to cover the deficit, it can.There is also one more potential fly in the ointment for the town. Bisignani said he is waiting to hear if the town has a legal obligation to maintain the rink whether or not it is subleased.”It has yet to be determined, but DCR expects the town will maintain the rink,” he said.That could put a crimp in any potential plans to close the rink should any sublease deal fall through.Selectman Peter Rossetti said the town has spent more time on this one issue in the last six months than any other. While Bisignani said he’d like to see something positive come out of the entire process, Rossetti likened it to making sausage.”In the end it might be good but you don’t want to see what goes into it,” he said.Bisignani will sit down with the Finance Committee Wednesday to update members on where negotiations stand as well as some “Plan B” possibilities.