Since voters approved a $29.9 million debt exclusion in April 2023 to build a new ice rink and later supported an additional $1.5 million appropriation to cover a budget shortfall, one constant has remained—the voters’ plea to erect a building that furthers the town’s environmental goals.
Specifically, residents want solar panels on the roof. And, provided funding supports it, that could be the new reality.
“We were set up to be solar-ready, but now it looks like we’re going to be able to put some on the roof,” said Building Committee Chair Mark Haley.
At Monday’s Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Patrice Garvin said the cost of panels was estimated at $1 million and told Select Board members electricity rates would be estimated based on the Belmont Municipal rate.
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Haley said Garvin had spoken to potential donors about supporting the project’s cost. In addition, he said, the cost would come out of the budget reserved for contingency plans.
“The intent would be to try to put solar panels on even before we open, ideally some time this summer,” Haley said. “We’re going out on the street to pre-qualify solar panel installers, and then, with the funding we might have … we could install some percentage of solar panels, or maybe all on the roof of the building.”
According to Haley, the goal is to begin making ice in early September to be ready for the start of high school hockey season, which starts the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Tariffs on Imports
As of Tuesday, all goods from Canada and Mexico will be subject to a 25% import tax — a tax that may impact the cost of the refrigeration system coming from Canada.
Haley said it was unclear what impact that might have on the municipal rink project.
“That’s something we’re trying to get answers on,” he said Tuesday. “What I’m told is if anything comes across the border, that’s when the tariff gets assessed.”
In a previous interview, Haley said the system was expected to be delivered in April.
Ensuring Revenue Neutrality
In her update to Select Board members Monday night, Garvin said she was working on ensuring the rink, upon completion, remains revenue neutral.
“Looking at municipal rink operation, we are looking at a couple of things,” Garvin said. “We want to meet the goal of a revenue-neutral rink. When looking at other municipal rinks… they all had revenue coming from their high school tenants. We promised residents we wouldn’t be seeking rent for high school athletics. That puts a little behind the 8-ball on revenue and where we need to find that revenue.”
The three main tenants, instead, would be Belmont Hill School, Belmont Youth Hockey, and Belmont Recreation. Although a fee structure is still to be decided— in other words, whether certain ice times should be priced at a different rate—the current estimate is roughly $350 an hour.
“The reason why revenue is so important to this rink is the rink building is not only going to support ice hockey, it’s going to support all the additional athletics going on at Harris Field. … There needs to be staff in that building,” she said. “The only way we can pay for staff is to bring in revenue to operate the building. That is really the challenge we’re seeing given the fact the high school is not paying for that prime ice time.”
Select Board Chair Elizabeth Dionne said Monday the rink “absolutely has to break even.”
“I can’t see taking operating funds, or frankly school funds or any funds,” she said. “If there’s any way to make it break even, we’ve really got to work on that.”
