Politics & Government

Councilors Urge Action on Petersen Pool and Rink

Braintree officials remain in negotiations with the mayor's preferred bidder.

The pending closure of the Zapustas Ice Arena in Randolph spurred town councilors Tuesday night to press the mayor's office on the progress of the Petersen Pool and Ice Rink, slated to be built at Braintree High School

"Many Braintree hockey players use that ice time," Councilor Sean Powers said.

Powers brought the issue up during Tuesday's Town Council meeting after discussing with Randolph officials the possibility that they could close the rink and keep the building open as a different type of recreation facility.

The town has known for 18 months that Randolph may close Zapustas, Chief of Staff and Operations Peter Morin said, adding that it could be a factor in ongoing negotiations with the mayor's preferred Petersen vendor.

"We remain in negotiations and we are in the process of reviewing our options to determine the next best step to take," Morin said. "We've made progress, we just haven't finished."

In an interview with Patch last month, Mayor Joseph Sullivan said that his team and the developer have had to navigate difficult financial terrain. Both parties, for instance, have not been able to come to agreement yet on who takes on unforeseen risks during the construction process.

Morin said Tuesday that legislation signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick two years ago allowing a "design-build" approach for the athletic complex also allows for the developer to move ahead with either the rink or pool first.

The rink could not, however, be constructed first using any of the $1.5 million from the amount Capt. Petersen gave to the town 50 years ago unless infrastructure common to both the rink and pool were included, Morin said. 

A pool could be built first or on its own, but the rink cannot be built altogether separately from the pool. 

Earlier this year, members of the Petersen evaluation committee deemed two plans to design, construct and operate the pool and ice rink unsatisfactory. 

The bids were submitted by Robert Norton and Carl Zingarelli, a longtime Babe Ruth volunteer. Norton, a personal injury lawyer with the firm Giarrusso Norton Cooley & McGlone, PC, was selected by Sullivan. Norton is listed with the National Hockey League Players’ Association as a certified player agent. He has not responded to requests for comment.

Councilor Paul "Dan" Clifford also urged Morin to move as quickly as possible, saying that demand for ice time in the area will spike if Zapustas closes.

"We're really facing a timeline now," Clifford said.

Morin said he could not provide a timeline, and said that if an agreement is reached, it could take anywhere from seven to 18 months to construct the complex depending on the type of facility and whether it will be seasonal or year-round.

Sullivan said previously that the agreement will still ultimately include the basic framework laid out in the past, including public and team ice and pool time and a 50-year lease on town-owned land where Carson Field is now.

The mayor's office should have an update within the next two weeks, Morin said.

"As soon as we have something positive or negative to report we will," he said.


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