Submitted by Javier Aleman and Seth Bacon from District 4
As RTM District 4 representatives and members of proud hockey families, we want to address recent comments submitted to the RTM and published in the Greenwich Free Press, as well as ongoing public commentary from a vocal minority opposing the Hamill Rink replacement project.
Much of the opposition rests on a flawed premise: that the Byram community does not support keeping the skating rink in Byram or the proposed “flip” concept.
This premise has been presented by a handful of vocal opponents who purport to speak for the Byram community and presents itself as representing the Byram Neighborhood Association. On multiple occasions they have implied that the people of Byram are against keeping the Dorothy Hamill Rink in Byram and that the BNA itself opposes it. In fact, the BNA itself has refuted claims that it is against (or for) the proposal made by the rink task force and has taken steps to distance itself from this group, which operates an unofficial BNA social media account. Any claims that there is a coordinated effort from the Byram community against this project are untrue.
In contrast, the verifiable public record tells a clearer story. Written comments submitted to the Task Force and, more recently, to the BET overwhelmingly support the flip plan, including a substantial number from Byram residents and entities beyond youth sports organizations. Even the BNA’s own informal survey, conducted months ago before the Task Force issued its formal recommendation, showed strong support for keeping the rink in Byram and divided views on the flip concept.
Leadership of the New Lebanon School PTA, Hamilton Avenue School PTA, and BANC submitted a joint statement supporting the project. Ten Byram residents signed and submitted a public comment to the RTM in support of the project, which was also published in the Greenwich Free Press.
At the recent BET budget hearing, 13 individuals spoke in favor of the rink project, including five from Byram, compared with two speakers in opposition, one of whom was from Byram. The record demonstrates that more Byram residents have gone on record in support of the project than against it.
And last week, Sam Romeo, Chairman of Greenwich Communities, submitted a letter to the RTM endorsing the Task Force’s recommended modified flip. In his letter, he explained that the plan’s inclusion of solar panels and heat pumps creates an opportunity to divert excess electricity to the senior housing building at McKinney Terrace. Because residents there currently pay their own electric bills and many live on fixed incomes, the ability to offset rising energy costs would provide a meaningful public benefit. The First Selectman has expressed support for incorporating this commitment into the project documents. This is a tangible example of how the modified flip can serve not only rink users, but also seniors in our community.
It is reasonable and fair to conclude that the project has meaningful support within Byram. While some residents oppose it, as is their right, they do not represent the entire neighborhood.
Some opponents also suggest that they speak for the hockey community. The hockey community has spoken clearly and publicly. The board of the Greenwich Cardinals Youth Hockey Association, current and former Greenwich High School boys and girls varsity hockey coaches, and many others have issued statements in support of the project. Hundreds of Greenwich residents have submitted written comments or spoken at public hearings in favor of moving forward. Those voices are part of this community and deserve to be acknowledged.
Disagreement with the Task Force’s recommendation does not mean the process was improper. The Task Force deliberated extensively and ultimately voted 8 to 1 in favor of the final report. Reasonable people can disagree, but the outcome reflects a thorough, thoughtful, and public process.
It has also been suggested that RTM District 4 leadership has not endorsed the plan, implying opposition. RTM District 4 leadership has not endorsed or opposed any plan publicly. No individual speaks for the entire district, and each RTM member will vote independently.
Looking ahead, while it is helpful that the BNA has clarified they have not taken a position on the rink project, on Thursday, February 26, they will host a public meeting to discuss the rink project featuring only one Task Force member, the BNA appointed member who cast the sole vote against the final recommendation. Other Byram residents who were also on the Task Force, including an RTM member and the representative of the Byram Veterans Association, were not invited to present.
The meeting has also been scheduled at a time when many Cardinals Youth Hockey families will be out of town for a long standing annual tournament. We believe public discussion is healthy and necessary. But it should include multiple perspectives and reflect the full breadth of the community. The way this meeting has been scheduled certainly impacts the ability for this to happen in a constructive way.
Byram – and the town of Greenwich more generally – is larger and more diverse than any person, organization, or social media forum. The clearest evidence available, written submissions, public testimony, and endorsements from schools, senior housing leadership, and community organizations, shows strong and broad support in Byram and across Greenwich for moving this long overdue project forward.