Loring Arena Renovations Approved by Framingham Town Meeting

After more than two hours of discussion and debate, Framingham Town Meeting members approved the estimated $5.7 million renovations of Loring Arena Thursday night by a vote of 106-35-7.

Framingham Patch was live blogging during the Town Meeting session. Click here to read the discussion.

Opened in 1963, after the Framingham High hockey team won the state championship in 1961, the Town of Framingham hockey rink, under the Parks and Recreation Department, has limited handicapped accessibility and does not have adequate space for both boys and girls hockey teams.

When built, girls sports did not have the popularity it has today and Title IX did not exist. Today girls hockey is one of the fastest growing sports. There is no dedicated boys and girls locker rooms - just locker rooms with urinals and open stalls.

A couple of Town Meeting members discussed running into older hockey players in various state of undress and that a handful of younger girls hockey players have had the same experience over the years.

The rink is used by hockey teams of all ages from Framingham youth, to high school teams, to Framingham State University teams to adults leagues.

The Town of Framingham makes money by charging out of town and the University’s team to use the ice. ice time at the rink costs $270 an hour.

The $5.7 million renovations to the rink are part of the $19 million capital budget request of the town’s chief financial officer in Article 12 of the Annual Town Meeting warrant.

The $5.7 million renovations also will remove asbestos and lead paint from the rink and replace the original boiler.

Framingham’s CFO Mary Ellen Kelley has estimated the project would cost taxpayers about $325, including interest to borrow the funds over the 20-year period.

Last night during the discussion, Framingham Town Meeting member Michael Cannon, who said he was originally against the project, said he did the math and that the project would cost $14.89 per year on an residential taxpayers’ bill over the course of the 20-year bond.

He said that was $1.24 a month or 4 cents a day.

“This is a no brainer for $15 bucks a year,” said Cannon. “I have never been so happy to admit I was wrong in my opinion.”

The rink is used from about 5 a.m. to after 11 p.m. for about 7 months of the year.

Besides hockey programs, Framingham Parks & Recreation offers learn to skate programs, at a fee to Framingham families, plus public skating throughout the season.

Framingham Parks and Recration Director Jim Duane announced last night that Framingham State University has agreed to pay $200,000 to $300,000 towards the renovations.

Editor’s Note: Attached to the report is the drawings of what the first and second floor renovations would look like post construction.