Town Meeting approved a long-stated goal of the Board of Selectmen at the recent Special Town Meeting: the ability to sign a long-term lease with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the operation of Ulin Rink.

Governor Deval Patrick recently signed a legislative amendment to allow the Town of Milton to lease Max Ulin Memorial Skating Rink from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $1 annually for up to 25 years.

The Warrant Article also allows Milton to sign a contract with an outside entity to operate the rink and to provide maintenance, repairs and improvements to the rink as needed.

The 25-year lease will allow the operator to make key capital improvements to the facility, a difficult task given the town’s current five-year permit.

Currently, Milton is in the second year of a three-year operating contract with Curry College. Once that contract ends, the town can negotiate with Curry College or another vendor to manage the site.

At Town Meeting, discussion over the article centered on protecting the ice time of non-profit youth programs, a provision, which was central to the current three-year operation contract with Curry College.

The discussion began when Dr. Richard Shea, a Town Meeting Member from Precinct 9, suggested a stipulation that a committee consisting of Milton stakeholders be created, be added to the Warrant Article.

Shea withdrew his motion when Town Counsel John Flynn explained that such protections could be added into a Request For Proposals (RFP) process for the contract between the town and an operator. The language was not necessary in securing a lease with the state.

“Protection [for stakeholders’ ice time] would lie in a contract between the town and the operator of the rink, whether it’s with Curry College or another entity,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Robert Sweeney.

State and local officials applauded the lease.

“This is very good for the taxpayers, this is very good for the town and this is very good for those non-profit groups,” said Sen. Brian A. Joyce.

Sweeney also commented on the rink’s value to the community.

“It has become one of our town treasures for this generation,” said Sweeney.