SALAMANCA — Following several years of discussions, the City of Salamanca is moving one step closer toward starting a capital improvement project at the Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond.

As general climate trends have meant fewer ice skating days in recent winters compared to past decades, the city is looking to construct a synthetic ice system that would allow for an extended skating season that could begin earlier in the fall and last later into the spring.

As part of the project process, the Common Council Wednesday declared the city as the lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and determined that the project is an unlisted action under SEQRA.

Additionally, the project would include the construction of a multi-purpose chalet building on the site, according to the SEQRA resolution. The former warming hut and storage building had been demolished in 2023, with a temporary shed installed for the 2024–25 skating season.

The new multi-purpose chalet would house a skate rental area,a kitchen for concessions, a concessions area and window, public restrooms with year-round accessibility, equipment storage and an indoor “warming hut” area with seating.

Over several meetings in 2024, the council, acting as the Public Works Commission, discussed shrinking the pond size by filling in the south end near Interstate 86. The Department of Public Works built a dyke to divide the pond in half, cutting off the south end and directing water up to the northern half to be filled in for freezing.

Mayor Sandra Mageria said the city is looking into renovating the entire property with the potential installation of an artificial ice rink surface that would allow for skating in more fall and spring months.

While other entities have discussed building indoor rinks elsewhere, Magiera said the city wants to ensure there is a place for anyone to ice skate at no charge.

“I still feel there are people in Salamanca who can’t afford to have their kids go to these rinks and pay what it is per hour to have them skate,” she added. “I still want a free rink of some sort at Fawn Avenue, and I don’t think I’m alone on that.”

The mayor said they already have some potential contacts and prices to get the rink and building done next year, which could allow for skating four to five months of the year. She said the council plans to get that project rolling in May.

“And it would still be our outside rink,” she added.

Because it takes several days of continuous freezing temperatures for the pond to operate, the last time the pond was open before this winter was in 2019 and 2020, which had less than 10 days of skating combined.

There was no skating in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it never got cold enough in 2022 or 2023 to open at all. The pond traditionally opened for more than 30 days each season two decades ago.

Everything in the old building — including memorabilia, the skates for rental and the Bill Flanigan Memorial sign — had been removed and placed in storage before it was demolished in anticipation of a new building.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, alderman Paul Myers requested the city attorney to prepare an ordinance to the municipal code regarding parking on South Main Street.

Myers said parking on the hill between East Jefferson and Armstrong streets impacts the visibility for the blind driveway of a residence on South Main. He said the city wants to put a “No parking” sign along there to increase safety and visibility for the homeowners.

“They can’t see coming in and out of their driveway,” he said. “We’re coming down from Armstrong another 92 or 97 feet and putting another ‘No parking’ north and south.”

Myers noted that the parking ordinance would not impact the First Baptist Church at the corner of South Main and East Jefferson, saying its members usually park along Jefferson Street.

ALSO OF NOTE, the council approved an amended agreement with HUNT Engineers for professional services related to the Veterans Memorial park archway repair project in the amount of $24,685.87.