By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
A number of people filled the Houlton council chambers on Monday in support of the Millar Civic Center and hockey in Houlton.
Houlton resident Mike Jenkins addressed concerns regarding the civic center during public comments. He presented a brief history of the facility and spoke in support of the arena.
“We need to invest in the infrastructure of the civic center, while looking for new ways to make it more profitable and efficient, starting with the purchase of new hockey boards,” he said. “In my opinion, the civic center is a town-owned property and should be funded as such and should not be the responsibility of RSU 29.”
The town had reached out to RSU 29 to help offset the hockey board costs.
As the council approached discussion on the hockey boards later in the meeting, Chairman Paul Cleary reopened public discussion.
“I am going to do something, I usually don’t do,” he said. “Where the place is packed with a lot of people who are obviously here for this reason, I will give people the opportunity to speak, not everyone, but if a couple would like to get up and speak in regards to this, I will open it up.”
Misty Marino was the first to address the council, noting with the civic center under new management, given time, the arena could increase revenues.
“I would just like to make the comments that you are looking at budgets on past performance and I feel at the civic center now, it is being managed in an entirely different manner,” she said. “I think it is being utilized much better and we’ve only had a very short time to show an increase in revenues, and I think if you give us a little time and let the manger do their job and do what they are supposed to do you will see an increase in revenues. And, if that is done, it is primarily a hockey arena and you do need hockey boards that work and are not a health hazard to the players. It is owned by the town, the burden does fall on the town. You cannot keep up with capital expenditures when your revenue stream depends on a safe environment.”
“I can’t believe that a hockey arena in the northern part of the state can’t make money and run in the black,” said Ken Eastham, hockey player and referee.
Eastham who plays hockey on both sides of the border noted to rent ice in Houlton is the “cheapest sheet of ice” compared to what Presque Isle and Woodstock charge.
“If you wanted to market it and truly run it to make money, it can be done, other municipalities around us are doing it,” he added.
Hockey parent Serenna Fitzpatrick approached the issue from another angle.
“An outdoor arena put concerns on all of us, not just hockey parents,” she said. “An outdoor arena is going to depend on the weather. We just can’t rely on Mother Nature. Alternative energy may be something to look into as far as lowering maintenance costs.”
Chairman Cleary noted that the civic center uses between $42,000 and $45,000 in fuel, not including other utilities, in its $189,000 operating budget. The council was not opposed to looking further into alternative energy.
“You have one of the best facilities on this side of Bangor,” said Ray Eastham. “I heard talk of putting in an outdoor ice arena. I have been involved in the hockey program for a good number of years. I just hate to see you step back 50 years. There is so much potential there with the right guidance you folks on the council can give in that direction.”
Throughout the night, the general public was working under the assumption that the council was looking to close the civic center and rely on an outdoor rink.
Councilor Dan Peabody clarified that “as a council, we have never really discussed closing the civic center. It has never been on the table.”
However, the council did ask Town Manager Eugene Conlogue to come up with options to be discussed, and one happened to be an outdoor rink.
“In defense of the town manager, he was asked for suggestions and he threw out suggestions,” said Houlton resident Charles Taylor. “People take things the wrong way. Everyone takes it personal. I kind of like the idea of an outdoor rink for people to skate on, not for competition.”
Taylor cautioned that replacing hockey boards is not just a one time deal and contingencies should be made for the future.
Councilor Sue Tortello thanked those with strong opinions about the civic center/hockey for attending.
“It is really important we hear what you have to say so we know what you would like us to do because after all, you are the town and we are representing you and we don’t know what to do unless you tell us.”
“I wish every Monday meeting we would have this big of a crowd,” chipped in Councilor Rob Hannigan and Councilor John White added, “It is great to see people come out and get involved.”
In other business:
• Council approved liquor license renewal for Courtyard Café.
• Appointed Conlogue as first municipal representative and Cleary as second municipal representative to the Northern Maine Development Commission membership.
• Council accepted low bid of $1.72 per gallon of liquid calcium from Maine Potato Growers.
• Council accepted low bid of $8,198.04 from Jackett Enterprises of Houlton for hand-placed pavement markings throughout town. They also accepted the low bid of $7,312.98 from Fine Line Pavement Striping of Hermon for machine-placed markings throughout town.
• Council accepted low bid from Bates Fuel, Inc. of Houlton to furnish the town supply of automotive gasoline, No. 2 fuel oil and kerosene from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016.
• Council tabled the request of Right of Way agreement between Herbert C. Haynes, Inc. and town of Houlton until May 28 when town attorney Dan Nelson looks over the contract.
• Council accepted with a vote of 4-1, the low bid of $32,750 from P.M.S.I. Company of Portland for an asphalt crack sealant melter applicator.
• RSU 29 district budget validation referendum is on Tuesday, June 11.
