Kasabuski rink owners sue Saugus

SAUGUS – Kasabuski Arena lessees Nathaniel S. Maniff and John P. Curley on Friday filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against the town and the state.According to the documents filed in court, a request for injunctive relief was brought against the town for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unfair and deceptive business practices, and for declaratory judgment with respect to a sublease of the Kasabuski Memorial Arena in Saugus.The complaint is in response to the Selectmen’s vote last month to evict Maniff and Curley.Maniff’s attorney Neil Rossman said the town does not have grounds to evict his clients.”The town moved to terminate the lease,” Rossman said. “We think it was without justification and are disputing it in court.”In its eviction notice, the town cited operational and contractual issues, and conflicts with user groups over ice time, locker rooms and rates.Saugus Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said the town proceeded with eviction because Maniff violated the sub-lease agreement with the town.”There were numerous violations,” Bisignani said. “We had several meetings with him and his attorney to no avail. He has not provided information that was requested and he has not performed, so the selectmen voted on July 7 to evict him.”The eviction notice that was sent by the town alleges Maniff failed to comply with procedures and guidelines for the allocation of ice time, violated the lease with the town by charging inappropriate fees for ice time and forced user groups to enter into agreements that permitted arbitrary changes and reassignments of ice time. Maniff was also accused of not providing monthly and yearly financial reports and not providing the correct insurance.Board of Selectmen Chairman Donald Wong declined to comment on the suit because it is pending litigation.