SALAMANCA – It has almost become as routine as the arrival of winter itself, and it appears this year local government officials are again trying to work out a deal that would open the Bill Flanigan Ice Rink this season.

Salamanca Mayor Carmen Vecchiarella told The Salamanca Press on Monday, Jan. 14 that he had recently met with officials from the Seneca Nation of Indians and reached an agreement similar to last year, which would have allowed the Nation to operate the ice pond if the weather would have cooperated.

Nancy Williams, community planner for the Nation, said specifics of the agreement haven’t been “fine tuned,” but agreed the plan is similar to last year’s. She said it has been led by Councilperson Darryl John and the Nation’s planning department.

Last year, the Nation had agreed to operate the ice pond, the concession stand and the warming hut. It agreed to supply the manpower to both prepare the ice skating pond and supervise it when it opened but it was permitted to use the city’s equipment for operation.

Williams said this year the Nation is looking for a vendor to operate the concession stand and also volunteers to help supervise when the pond is open. Those interested are asked to contact Williams at (716) 945-1790 ext. 3064.

The ice pond, located on Fawn Avenue and bordered by Interstate 86, closed for the 2011 season after the city and Nation could not come to terms with a mutual agreement. In the past, the city’s department of public works had operated the ice pond in conjunction with the youth center, but citywide layoffs in August 2010 cut the forces too thin to open the attraction.

* This is a partial story. The full story can be found in the Jan. 17, 2013 edition of The Salamanca Press and online in the e-edition. *