Saugus rink nets new bidder, sparks optimism

SAUGUS – A new bidder on the Kasabuski Rink has Town Manager Andrew Bisignani guardedly optimistic that the long drama surrounding the arena might finally be over.After negotiations between the Kasabuski Partnership of Lynnfield and the Department of Conservation and Recreation stalled Bisignani put the rink back out to bid. His idea was that by loosening up the bid language he might get a new taker on the old rink.He was right.Daniel Maniss of Revere and John Curly of Peabody were the only bidders but Bisignani said the pair more than fits the bill.”They both have experience with rink management and Daniel Maniss has run the Wings league for over 20 years,” he said. “John Curly too and that’s a big league.”The deal differs from the partnerships in that Maniss and Curly will not pay off the rink’s deficit up front. While the partnership offered $725,000 up front to pay off the deficit it also in effect tied their hands with DCR. Bisignani said they were less willing to bend to DCR’s requests because of the money it was putting up.He said Maniss and Curly have offered to pay $150,000 up front and $40,000 per year for the next 19 years.”We won’t get it all up front but that’s okay,” Bisignani said.Town Moderator and rink fan Robert Long said he thought Bisignani made a good deal. Details still must be ironed out but Long said he was pleased to see “hockey people” take over the rink.”They already run a system of teams that play at levels higher than the local youth hockey,” he said. “And they’ll keep John and Bev.”Long said part of the deal includes keeping rink Manager John Hatch and most of the current staff on. The pair also agreed to work out a way to keep costs down for the high schools and Youth Hockey league.”It will stabilize the rink actually,” he said. “There’s great potential I think. Not just for stabilization but for expansion. It doesn’t give us all the money all at once but for now I can live with that.”Bisignani said the next step is finalizing the details of a contract with the state and between Maniss and Curly and DCR. The Board of Selectmen must then vote on the lease and post it for seven days online to give residents a chance to comment.”They have a great capital improvement plan . . . and they know exactly what they’re getting into,” Bisignani said. “They feel comfortable and excited about the process. The devil is in the details but I am guardedly optimistic.”