The Town of Minto has authorized the formation of an ad hoc committee to review future operations at the Clifford arena.
The review was triggered by a recreation department policy requiring a review of operations at any of Minto’s three arenas if the average weekly total of ice rental hours is below 45.
A Jan. 11 report from Recreation Director David Stonley advised council the average weekly ice usage in Clifford from September to December, 2010, was 31.5 hours per week, with anticipated usage from January to March 2011 pegged at 41.5 hours. The overall ice average for the current ice season is expected to come in around 36 hours per week.
“This is a result of decreased usage by minor hockey operations, a ringette organization and some recreational hockey groups,” states Stonley in the report.
Stonley recommended an ad hoc committee consisting of himself, Mayor George Bridge, Recreation Program Coordinator Matt Lubbers, a councillor and approximately four members of the public, “preferably residents of the village of Clifford,” be formed.
At the Jan. 11 council meeting, Bridge noted members of the volunteer Clifford Recreation Committee, who have been volunteer their time at the rink and raising funds to keep the doors open, have been advised of the impending review and will be asked to appoint members to the ad hoc review committee.
Bridge suggested himself and Councillor Mary Lou Colwell be part of the committee.
Councillor Ron Elliott, who also volunteered to be on the committee, asked if ice time usage at arenas in Harriston and Palmerston would also be reviewed, “so we can compare?”
Bridge stated that while this review would focus on the Clifford arena, ice-time usage comparisons would probably be part of the discussion.
However, he noted, “We’re not going through a master plan at this point.”
Bridge also pointed out that the current agreement with the Clifford Recreation Committee ends this March, “So we have to come back with some information to see what Clifford’s going to be doing next year.”
