Saugus rink lease details posted on town’s site

SAUGUS – Buried on the town Web site, the lease agreement for the Kasabuski Memorial Arena has hit the end of its public comment portion, but residents can still voice an opinion.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said technically residents could still comment on the potential lease agreement up until the Board of Selectmen vote on it, which could be as soon as Tuesday.The lease can be found under Administrative Services, which is listed under Town Departments on the town’s Web site, www.saugus-ma.gov. Bisignani offered an apology to anyone who had trouble finding the lease.”I’m not on the Web site that much myself, so I didn’t really know (it was buried),” he said. “People can still comment though right up until the Board takes its vote, which I hope is Tuesday.”The eight-page lease spells out exactly what is expected of Nathaniel Maniff of Revere and John Curley of Peabody if they sign on to sublet the rink.First and foremost they will have to project ice rates for Saugus High School hockey and the Youth Hockey program, and it will toss some funds the town’s way.Bisignani said although it’s not included in the lease, the pair is required to keep ice rates at $175 per hour for the two local hockey organizations. Bisignani said the stipulation was included in the Request for Proposals and Maniff and Curley must adhere to those provisions along with the contract.The pair will also have to pay the town a total of $910,000 on the rink’s operating deficit, but not all at once. They are required to pay $150,000 at the signing of the lease and $40,000 each year through 2028.It also states the men are accepting the rink “as is” but must put a capital improvement plan into action in a timely manner. The pair is also prohibited from further subletting the business, selling off any equipment and they can only operate the place as an ice rink and nothing else.In exchange, the sublessees don’t have to worry about paying for water, sewer or trash pick up for the first three years. Bisignani said the town agreed to pick up the tab for those items along with employee insurance, including worker’s compensation, for the first year.”It really isn’t much of a savings and it’s just easier for them,” he said referring to the utility deal.He said he also agreed to the insurance simply because it’s already paid for.”This was supposed to start in July and when it didn’t I couldn’t do the budget without including insurance for rink employees,” he said. “It wouldn’t amount to much of a savings even if we canceled it now.”Selectman Peter Rossetti, who has sat in on much of the discussion and debate surrounding the sublease deal, said he is satisfied with the final product.”There are things I’d like to see a little different, but in general I think it’s as good as it’s going to get,” he said. “It’s not ideal, but no contract is.”Rossetti said the sublease gives some protection to the organizations using the rink, which he likes.”Does it make everyone happy? No,” he said. “Will it ever make everyone happy? No.”The board will likely take up the contract during its regular meeting Tuesday in Town Hall auditorium at 7:30 p.m.