MINUTES
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS,
7:00 P.M.
at PLAYLAND ICE CASINO
PRESENT: Chair: V. Pinto. Members: B. Ryan; B Spreckman;
G. Latimer.
STAFF: B. Dodds/Program Specialist.
ALSO PRESENT: Stanley Motley-Commissioner, Joe Stout-Deputy Commissioner, David DeLucia (WC/Parks Dept.); Joe Montalto (Playland Manager); Bill Schoenberg (Rink Manager); Shirley Bourquin, Ma Dourn, John P. Pfoh, Tom Monehan, and Gail Roman (Rye Figure Skating Club); Bick Henchey (Citizens for Playland Ice Rink Improvement); Robin Phelps Latimer.
DISCUSSION:
Introductions were made by Chairman Pinto who expressed the Committee’s interest in bringing together user interest groups and the rink management to discuss issues raised by communications to the Board of Legislators. Board Chairman Latimer explained the Board’s intention to help in areas where it can and to facilitate positive changes. Commissioner Motley said the department wants its operations to be more participatory. Facilities users are the department’s strongest supporters and he wants to have frequent dialogues with them. Six million dollars of expenditures were planned for the rink he said. A list of the proposed ice casino capital improvements was distributed.
Members of the Rye Figure Skating Club and Citizens for Playland Ice Rink Improvement commented on conditions at the rink from their perspective:
· Students are the lifeblood of a rink and without a strong school, students will leave.
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· Attendance has dropped at Playland and other rinks—Westchester Ice Club, Twin Rink in Elmsford, Murray’s, Ice Hutch, Perry Connors—have larger numbers of students.
· They want an aggressive campaign to build the school back up.
· The director who was released in October has not been replaced—the Rye Skating Club only exists with a really strong skating program here. The county process is cumbersome delaying quick hires and authority to the director to get things done.
· Synchronized skating is the hot new sport that will be in the next winter Olympics. School has an opportunity take the lead in developing the sport in Westchester. (Mrs. Bourquin’s daughter is an international judge in synchronized skating.)
· The school needs a professional director and stronger marketing efforts.
· Public skating hours have been cut from 5 hours down to 3.
· Pricing is not equal—hockey ice time is $13 for 1½ hours while figure skating is $12.50 an hour. Ice time is rented to Connecticut groups for same rate as county residents.
· “You don’t make money selling ice.”
· Teams need 10 hrs. per week for teams.
· The ice casino’s original features are beautiful and the air is warm. The only drawback to the rink is not being able to drive up.
Comm. Motley said he appreciated the good comments and will be mailing brochures to all residents this year in an effort to increase awareness and interest.
· There should be a formalized citizens group to advise the management.
· There should be a formalized citizens group to advise the management.
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· The oval for figure skating and training needs to be marked off with cones as before.
· The ice gets rutted quickly.
· The sound system is weak—should be scrapped and replaced in conference with users. An ineffective sound system is a safety hazard that also effects how well skaters follow directions.
· The music should be mixed and easy to skate to.
· The number of hours should be increased.
· Managers should have an office on the mezzanine so they can see and be on top of things.
· Early morning hours should be allowed during the week at reduced rates.
· Restrooms are disgusting and a health issue.
Joe Montalto said we all want the same thing and the staff works hard to produce. As a public ice rink, the philosophy is to serve as many people as possible so public skating is the major focus. Skating is available 51 hours a week but there have been struggles in scheduling.
The department never had a full-time director—three have not worked out in recent times. The position now is an annual job with benefits that should be attractive to better candidates. He pointed to an independent website (www.skateny.com) that rated Rye Playland as “the best ice we have skated all season, . . . This is probably one of the best places for beginners to skate-the ice is great and the crowd is controlled,” (printout attached.) The oval cones will be replaced and the restrooms cleaned up right away he said. The rink will be marketed as comfortable for kids and parents, a great place to skate with great learning opportunities.
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· On the ice management is needed. The ice guard jobs pay only $6.50 an hour and it costs $15 to apply! The manager should monitor the guards.
Legislator Pinto said there are things that can be done to improve the process of improving the rink—short contracts can be used without the A&C process for example. The Board of Legislators can add funds to a budget if necessary. It would be helpful to have a list of resources for various aspects of rink operations. We should look at area rates and other rinks—perhaps develop a rink checklist.
Montalto said they should have a new director of the school shortly. He is optimistic that a good candidate can be hired. Also, the conference room will be refurbished and a new food concession added. The lobby definitely needs to be reconfigured and the new sound system is in the capital budget.
Mrs. Bourquin (who is a well-known skating judge) volunteered to be a resource in hiring the school director.
The fund for marketing has been cut every year by the Board—that would be one place where legislators could help.
Joe Stout said that Playland is a cost center—the rink is not a revenue maker within the whole park.
Leg. Pinto said he is willing to come and tour the facilities or to meet anytime with the users and/or the management. Comm. Motley added that the Parks administration is accessible by phone or e-mail to anyone. Whatever it takes will be done to keep this partnership going.
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Leg. Ryan summarized the meeting—there seems to be a commitment to improve the rink. There has been progress on getting a director and an appointment might be imminent with help. Management is working to cover as much as possible but not necessarily to make a profit. He asked, what could the legislature do to allow management to improve the rink quickly? Perhaps money could be made available in the short-term to reverse a trend. Montalto said government laws handicap them in contracts.
Leg. Spreckman said the priorities right now are safety guards, a new sound system and a director of the skating school.
Dave DeLucia said a primary concern was to stabilize the building shell but that aesthetic features including a sound system may be pulled out of the capital schedule and be tackled first. Some things like restrooms don’t have to wait to be addressed. A meeting will be set up with the Dept. of Public Works.
Leg. Pinto reminded the organizations that they can keep in touch with management or the committee about any concerns. The committee will follow up with a meeting in March either at Playland or at the Board to look at the progress that has been made. A motion to close the meeting was made by Leg. Ryan and seconded by Leg. Spreckman.