After a lengthy discussion, Town Meeting has given the advice the Select Board sought from it regarding the naming of the rebuilt skating rink, and the vote is to keep Skip Viglirolo’s name on it.
In her explanation of the Select Board’s new policy for naming buildings in town, Board member Elizabeth Dionne referenced Concord and Wellesley’s policies as particularly helpful in guiding the select board in creating this policy. Why only these two towns? When the salary of Town Administrator Patrice Garvin was determined for her new contract, information from about 15 towns, including Arlington, Reading, and Watertown— communities we rarely, if ever, compare Belmont to—was used to determine her new salary. Why weren’t these 15 communities again checked for their naming policies, assuming they believe it is necessary to have one?
Dionne also stated Belmont did not retain the Kendall name on the Senior Center when it was built on the site of the former Kendall School. Maybe it’s time for the town to rectify this oversight and name it the Kendall Senior Center. I would like to remind readers that when the Chenery and Wellington schools were rebuilt, there was no discussion about dropping either name.
The now-razed field house was named for Paul White, not the skating rink. We already have a Higginbottom Pool at the high school carrying an individual’s name. I suggest the School Committee memorialize Paul White by naming the high school field house the Paul White Memorial Field House.
I hope the Select Board, School Committee, and the many town residents concerned about keeping Skip Viglirolo’s name on the rebuilt rink find my comments and suggestions helpful.
Dick Madden, Pleasant Street