By Elizabeth Barhydt
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) of Greenwich will convene on January 21 at 8:00 p.m. for its first meeting of the year. The session will cover 18 resolutions spanning appointments, funding requests, and community development projects.
On the table at that meeting is the future of skating in Greenwich and the issue of correcting problems with a baseball field wrapped together in Dorothy Hamill rink project, which received Municipal Improvement (MI) status from Planning and Zoning last month. Four Byram residents—Al Shehadi, Joseph Kantorski, Liz Eckert, and Lucy Von Brachel— invoked a rarely used provision of the town charter to bring the rink replacement project MI status to a full RTM vote, forcing the body to approve or reject the proposal already greenlit by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The project, which proposes constructing a new rink on the current site of Strazza Field and relocating the field to the existing rink site once the old facility is demolished, has drawn praise and some criticism. This plan is aimed at maintaining uninterrupted use of the rink during construction and reducing impacts on neighboring Sherman Avenue properties.
“This rink is Greenwich’s heart,” said Bill Drake, Chairman of the Rink User Committee for Design and Planning. “It’s where generations have come together, and it’s time we ensure it’s safe for generations to come.” First Selectman Fred Camillo echoed this sentiment, recalling his own childhood skating there: “I’ve seen how it’s been piecemealed together over the years. Today, it falls short against any other rink in Fairfield County, and probably in the state of Connecticut. It’s become an embarrassment.”
The rink currently serves more than 3,000 skaters annually, including figure skaters, youth hockey players, and recreational skaters. However, its aging infrastructure has left it unable to meet modern demands. Among the most pressing issues are the rink’s undersized ice surface, inadequate locker rooms, shared bathrooms, and outdated mechanical systems.
Nancy Thompson Lundy, a longtime Greenwich resident and former president of the Windy Hill Skating Club, recounted in a letter to the Sentinel how the community rallied in the 1980s to fundraise for rink improvements. With Hamill herself performing in a sold-out ice show, they raised $45,000 to secure town-matched funds for renovations.
“Now it is time for a total reset,” Lundy wrote. “Add a new chapter to this story.” (see her letter on the editorial page)
The $24 million proposal, dubbed “the flip,” allows skating programs to continue uninterrupted, avoids costly temporary facilities, and improves the orientation and size of the baseball field.
“Right now, the baseball field faces directly into the sun, making play difficult and even unsafe,” Drake noted. The reoriented field would meet regulation standards, providing better opportunities for local athletes.
The new rink design also incorporates modern amenities, including regulation-size ice, expanded locker rooms with showers, and energy-efficient features like solar panels.
A public survey conducted by Sports Facilities Advisory revealed that 84% of respondents favored the proposed plan, while emails to the Planning and Zoning Commission showed 136 letters in support compared to just eight against.
Proponents of the rink plan, including Loh and Lundy, have urged the community to reach out to RTM members ahead of the vote to ensure their voices are heard.
“This vote is essentially a referendum on this project,” Loh wrote in a recent Sentinel letter (see full letter on this week’s editorial page). “Approval of this site plan is a necessary step in the progress of this project.”
As Greenwich takes this pivotal step, the decision made by the RTM will not only shape the future of the Dorothy Hamill Rink but will also set a precedent for how the town approaches large-scale community projects in the years ahead.
COMPLETE AGENDA OVERVIEW
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
Jenny Larkin is nominated as a Regular Member for a term expiring October 31, 2029.
FAIR RENT COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
Russell Naiman is nominated as a Regular Member for a term expiring July 1, 2025.
Christina Vanderlip is nominated as an Alternate Member for a term expiring July 1, 2027.
Niels Pennings is nominated as an Alternate Member for a term expiring July 1, 2026.
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES AGENCY APPOINTMENT
Gordon Hinshalwood is nominated as a Regular Member for a term expiring October 31, 2028.
ALARMS APPEAL BOARD APPOINTMENT
Kenneth Mifflin is nominated as a Regular Member for a term expiring June 30, 2027.
REGISTRAR OF VOTERS FUNDING REQUESTS
$19,800 for fire safety improvements, funded through the Election Excellence grant.
$140,800 for polling place accessibility improvements, also funded by the Election Excellence grant.
$17,236.35 for professional and special services, funded by a state grant accepted by the RTM in December 2024.
COHEN EASTERN GREENWICH CIVIC CENTER DONATION
Acceptance of a $45,165 gift of furniture from the Parks and Recreation Foundation to furnish two rooms in the new facility.
NATHANIEL WITHERELL NURSING FACILITY FUNDING
$60,000 for tray line system upgrades.
GLENVILLE CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS
Acceptance of a $252,076 gift from the Belpointe Foundation for the installation of 36 decorative light poles.
FLOOD MITIGATION SUB-GRANTS
Approval of federal sub-grants to elevate flood-prone homes at 5 North Way, Old Greenwich, and 4 Apple Tree Lane, Riverside.
GREENWICH LIBRARY ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION
$120,000 for the modernization of three elevators.
OLD GREENWICH SCHOOL EXPANSION
$1,965,000 is requested to support the school’s expansion and renovation project.
OLD GREENWICH SCHOOL BOND AUTHORIZATION
Authorization for the issuance of $1,965,000 in bonds to fund the school expansion.
DOROTHY HAMILL SKATING RINK REPLACEMENT
A municipal improvement application for the construction of a new rink and the relocation of Strazza Field within Eugene Morlot Memorial Park.
GREENWICH LIBRARY BOND AUTHORIZATION
Authorization for the issuance of $120,000 in bonds for the elevator modernization project.
VETERANS MEMORIAL TREE GROVE PRESERVATION
The RTM will vote to ensure no impact on the protected tree grove within Eugene Morlot Memorial Park.
PLANNING FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS
Review of a gift valued at $252,076 for decorative light pole installations.
DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FUNDING REQUEST
Acceptance of a $45,165 furniture donation for the new civic center.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS
Appropriations related to public safety and environmental resilience.
