Hamburg Town Council Votes Yes to Pursue New Ice Arena!

The verdict is in, at least for the time being. During Monday nights Town Council work session the Council voted yes to pursue the next step in building a new Ice Arena. As reported earlier, the Town Council needs a Home Rule Exemption in order to take the necessary steps to put this issue to a resolution and then to a bid to build a new Ice Arena.

In order for this to take place the council will need a local state representative to present to the State Assembly and State Senate the proposal for this Home Rule Exemption. If this happens this year, we could see construction start by mid summer. The general political perception is this will sit in Albany until next year due to the late request of this issue. It is possible that Albany acts on this quickly but I would be surprised if they do.

Especially after the Bike Path proposal, that was the darling of the Town Democrats, was shot down by the same conservative board members asking for this Home Rule Exemption. I perceive the politics of the area to intervene and the predominant Democrats to either shoot this down quickly or sit on it until after next years Town Supervisor election. I could be wrong but politics almost always trumps expediency.

The vote was simple. Walters, Quatroche and Smardz voted yes to go ahead. Best is out of town and was obviously absent. Joan Kesner abstained from the vote. I haven’t heard the official reason she claimed for her abstention but the rumor, I’m told, is she claimed her association working for State Senator Stachowski required her to abstain. Once again, that was only a second hand rumor. 

Those of you opposed to this plan were obviously left out of the loop by this vote in a work session. I  agree that this should have been a public vote at a regular Town Council meeting but the reality is that work sessions are open to the public. I’m happy that this is moving forward, that in no way means that I’m on-board with a final designation to Walker and Andrachuk. I do think that sitting on this doesn’t help anyone in the town and if we are granted a Home Rule Exemption this year, I would expect the Town Council to hold closed bids and let the winner proceed. Walker isn’t getting an easy walk on this if I have anything to do with it. He will have to follow the rules and win the bid like anyone else.