We read in The Voice that the ice rink project is now estimated to be $4 million over budget. The reported reasons for the cost overruns thus far almost guarantee that once construction begins, the cost overruns will creep even higher.
In our 40 years as Belmont residents, we do not recall a single instance in which we did not vote in support of funding for civic projects. Nevertheless, we were initially skeptical of the ice rink project but voted in support most recently because the projected cost had been scaled back from an earlier proposal, and important features were added to the promised structure.
Now we hear that the cost of the ice rink will be higher, with every indication that keeping even within this ballooning cost will entail cutting out important features in the structure.
This is not what the town voted to approve. Not least, the credibility of any and all future town projects is being called into question by what is happening here. If voters cannot trust that what they approve at the ballot box will be what is actually delivered, we foresee a downward spiral in community spirit in Belmont, and with it a downward spiral in Belmont’s future.
Donald Hafner and Mieko Kamii, Rutledge Road