Ice Rink

[Psycho1]

Also, is there a budget for the rink that shows costs of operations and revenue? I heard that the concession stand pays for a lot of the operations.

The WS proposed budget for 2008 contains the following, regarding the Ice Rink.
P/T Laborers- $16,000.00
Instructor Fee- $8,000.00
Recreation Equipment- $5,000.00

The next line in the budget proposal is titled:
"Building and Grounds- Recreation Center" which may encompass the Ice Rink or not. The entries are:
Other Expenses- 0
Telephone- 1400.00
Gas- 28,000.00
Water- 3000.00
Repair and Maintenance- 20,000.00
Contract Repairs- 8000.00

As I have stated in previous posts, this budget proposal is high school accounting class at best. When shown to other CPAs, they enjoy a good chuckle.

[Velvet Fog]

So there are no other leagues that play at the rink?

There has to be--ice time is nearly impossible to get. At night its brutal.

[wnyfuture]

Also, is there a budget for the rink that shows costs of operations and revenue? I heard that the concession stand pays for a lot of the operations.

The concessions and pro shop are owned by company. Not sure who but they pay monthly rent from Sept to April, I heard two different numbers - $500 to $1000

Is the rink open all year? If not what do they do in the summer?

The rink is not opened all year round. WS rink use to be used for basketball.

There has to be--ice time is nearly impossible to get. At night its brutal.

I've done a little research and made a few phone calls. The ice is used by Town of West Seneca House & Travel Program, Niagara Scenics/Buffalo Jr Sabres, High School Program, and than open skate.

Monday Nights - Junior Team eats up ice from 6:30pm to rink closes. How many West Seneca residents on this team? ZERO. Buffalo Jr Sabres also charge admission which is illegal in the town of Depew, not sure about West Seneca. They charge $8 per person, does the town get a cut of the money? I also found out that Joel Giambra's brother owns the team. Surprise! Surprise! Why are they allowed to charge admission and why is the Town of West Seneca not getting a cut of the admission?

I also asked a parent in the West Seneca Travel Program also known as West Seneca Wings. The travel program has no association with the town but they use our town name and our rink. They have no residency rule unlike the towns of Hamburg, Amherst, and Cheektowaga, in fact their team only has four West Seneca School District/Town residents. They "cut" many West Seneca residents for kids that live in Orchard Park, Hamburg, Buffalo, Niagara Falls. None of the coaches are from West Seneca either. If you are using the name "West Seneca" you are representing our entire town. How is this fair to a West Seneca resident that has to travel to another town and play? I'm pissed as a tax payer and I need to voice my opinion.

[Velvet Fog]

I also asked a parent in the West Seneca Travel Program also known as West Seneca Wings. They have no residency rule, in fact their team only has four West Seneca School District/Town residents. They "cut" many West Seneca residents for kids that live in Orchard Park, Hamburg, Buffalo, Niagara Falls. None of the coaches are from West Seneca either. If you are using the name "West Seneca" you are representing our entire town. How is this fair to a West Seneca resident that has to travel to another town and play? I'm pissed as a tax payer and I need to voice my opinion.[/QUOTE]

Its not fair---just politics...

[wnyfuture]

Its not fair---just politics...

well said, anyone else outraged? The more and more, I keep digging up about the ice rink, the more I keep getting pissed.

I have no problem with our youth sports' teams having non-residents but I do have a problem when a non-school district/town resident is on a team over resident also known as a taxpayer. Cheektowaga is allowed 3 non-residents on their teams. That's fair and they don't have a problem filling the teams. I know West Seneca always has a wait list a mile long or what I am being told.

[Velvet Fog]

well said, anyone else outraged? The more and more, I keep digging up about the ice rink, the more I keep getting pissed.

I have no problem with our youth sports' teams having non-residents but I do have a problem when a non-school district/town resident is on a team over resident also known as a taxpayer. Cheektowaga is allowed 3 non-residents on their teams. That's fair and they don't have a problem filling the teams. I know West Seneca always has a wait list a mile long or what I am being told.

I'n in the town of tonawanda and I know how politcally laden the area is....We have 2 ice rinks and a golf dome that is packed daily...I'd love to know how much money they pull in. I know that the police budget ismore than half of the town's entire budget...

[CSense]

But the place is empty for the most part.. WHY have it?

I grew up in West Seneca, it was never filled during the day but for hockey league play it was packed. Many figure skater train on the ice. Also, we use to rent the space out for night time play.

I cannot answer the funding and salary issues but the ice rink was a great place when I was a kid and I can't imagine the town without it.

[Pumpkinhead]

It is definitely a great place but the question is whether it has become a haven for patronage jobs that are unnecessary and wasting tax dollars. I think that the rink guards are a waste of tax payer dollars. There are too many of them and they don't do anything. The actual budget for the ice arena operations do not seem to be clear from the Town's budget. There is no way to tell whether it is a money maker or money loser. Yet someone must know that actual bottom line because the Town hockey league was pushing for Tim Greenan's arena, as were the Scientologists, using the argument that the new ice arena would make money.

[wnyfuture]

I called the rink and someone answered the phone. Why is someone working at the ice rink when no one is skating till 3:30pm?

[Psycho1]

... Town hockey league was pushing for Tim Greenan's arena, as were the Scientologists, using the argument that the new ice arena would make money.

Of course, money for the Greenan family!

[lions cub]

why would I vote for Clarke and Russo, haven't seen a lot of effort to win my vote, Both boast about going to all the board meeting for so long, my question is what took so long to step up.

My votes go to Meegan and Wirth, both new comers and will want to prove themselves.

[erlyrizr1]

I think I smell a rat in the henhouse. Brian, if you want to know anything about the rink, stop there and see Megan himself. He'll tell you anything you want to know.

[PAC police]

its about the money. the back room deals, the family working, old connections(Walsh ring a bell) and simply put the Paul Clack hangover. At least these Guys went out and got on the ballot. And yourself ??????????????

[Psycho1]

why would I vote for Clarke and Russo, haven't seen a lot of effort to win my vote, Both boast about going to all the board meeting for so long, my question is what took so long to step up.

My votes go to Meegan and Wirth, both new comers and will want to prove themselves.

Dale Clarke has been tied up by the EC Democratic, and Craig Hicks' crying after his lose. Dale and Rudy have been at the board meetings over the years in an attempt to get answers. The Clark and Greenan faction has manipulated who got on the ballot, and it was only because Paul was self absorbed in his County Exec. run that they were able to get there. Brian Wirth hasn't put any effort into his campaign other than tell us he's Sandra Lee's grandson and spouting the same tired platitudes as most campaigners.

[wnyfuture]

Dale Clarke has been tied up by the EC Democratic, and Craig Hicks' crying after his lose. Dale and Rudy have been at the board meetings over the years in an attempt to get answers. The Clark and Greenan faction has manipulated who got on the ballot, and it was only because Paul was self absorbed in his County Exec. run that they were able to get there. Brian Wirth hasn't put any effort into his campaign other than tell us he's Sandra Lee's grandson and spouting the same tired platitudes as most campaigners.

Saying you are someone's grandson is trying to research to see if you are 1/16th indian to open up a casino. It's a poor excuse.

Wirth, Meegan, Osmanski, and Clarke are the only ones who have sent mailings out for General Election. Which is called spending money. Nothing from Russo, Zimpfer, or Hicks. It could be Russo, Zimpfer, and Hicks are staying on the ballot to take away votes from someone, who could it be though?

Back to the ice rink, seems like a lot of politics, unnecessary spending, and of course business as usual.