Ulin Rink Remains in Flux as Curry College Earns New Contract

Curry College will manage the Max Ulin Memorial Skating Rink through April 2015 under a new contract approved Wednesday night by the Board of Selectmen.

The college has operated the Department of Conservation and Recreation rink for the past three years. It has been losing money, but is a good manager and is working to make its operation more sustainable, Planning Director Bill Clark said.

Clark told the selectmen that Curry has helped the town improve the rink physically and that extending its management of the facility will also assist the town in its goal of reaching a 25-year lease with the DCR.

Milton is currently three years into a five-year letter of award with the agency. It has not lost any money over the past three years, but is inhibited from generating investment in the rink because operators are reluctant to put money in without their own long-term contract, Clark said.

A new Zamboni is a high-priority, for instance. The current machine is more than 15 years old and has been rebuilt recently. The rink also needs larger compressors, the equipment that produces ice, to be more sustainable.

"We keep putting Band-Aids on broken pieces," Clark said.

Curry's existing contract will expire Aug. 31, 2013. The new agreement will last until April 30, 2015, when Milton's agreement with the DCR to run the rink runs out. The college was the only bidder on Milton's request for proposals.

Clark said that with help from Curry officials he is in talks with the DCR on the long-term town lease. He has also requested the ability to raise rates at the rink, though has yet to receive approval on that front. 

An hour of ice time for Milton Youth Hockey at Ulin Rink costs $175, for example, while a private rink might charge its local team $250 per hour, Clark said.

To make the operation more feasible for the college, Curry management has shifted public skate times to rent at higher price points to private groups. Still, overall public skate availability has increased since the DCR handed over the rink to Milton, Clark said.

Over the past three years, Curry has invested $300,000 in capital improvements in the rink. For instance, the college received more than $54,000 in energy rebates by insulating the roof and side wall.

Curry has lost $60,000 per year over the last three years and is aiming to reduce or eliminate that deficit, Clark said, but is prepared to absorb future losses if necessary.