What is going on with the Rink/Pool

Every time I read an article about the Petersen Pool/Rink project I get more confused and concerned that we are not getting what we are asking for.

              Peter Morin Chief of Staff and Operations for the Town was interviewed last week in an article from Boston.com. In that article he indicated that the Pool/Rink committee has graded the bids as unsatisfactory. He also says that the committee used the following to rate the bid:  Design, number of seats, environmental criteria, and references. Further into the article Mr. Morin said “The deciding factor between the low-scoring proposals was the record of success in developing other sites”.

            Ok I stop there because I am confused as to why we would select a developer that our own committee rates unsatisfactory. Reading between the lines it seems like to me that they have a developer they like but that developer is not going to give us what we are asking for. They are currently negotiating with this developer now.

            What is to negotiate we put out a bid, it’s either you can build it or you can’t. I have travelled around Massachusetts and New England to watch kid’s hockey games. New facilities like Falmouth and Hyannis are fantastic. Falmouth uses a solar power to off set cost of energy, they have great grand stands to watch a game it also has a concession area and pro shop, basically what we should be getting.

          I am also concerned that everything surrounding the Pool/Rink is hush hush. Why? Captain Petersen is laying out 1.5 million to get this going. I for one would like to be kept out of the dark on this.  

            To conclude my first posting I leave this. All I wish for is they build and maintain a great facility, Give the High School kids and Braintree Youth Hockey a place to call home. I was told that Braintree Youth Hockey has over 500 kids playing. Not to leave out the swimmers but it will be great for kids and adults as well.

Braintree Rink/Pool