WILMINGTON, MA — Things appear to be getting ugly between Rotondo Enterprise, the management company of Ristuccia Arena, and the Town of Wilmington, which will presumably attempt to purchase the rink this summer.
At Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen Meeting, Town Manager Jeff Hull announced that Rotondo Enterprises has informed Wilmington High School Athletic Director Ed Harrison that the WHS hockey teams will no longer be given ice time at the rink beginning this fall.
Rotando’s current lease of Ristuccia Arena does not expire until August 2018.
“Apparently no reason was provided regarding the termination of the provision of ice time for the boys and girls school hockey programs, which has been in place for many years,” said Hull.
Hull explained that it will not be easy to find ice time for the high school’s hockey program for the 2015-2016 school year.
“Mr. Harrison will be required to find ice time from rinks in neighboring communities in an attempt to enable school teams to continue to compete,” warned Hull. “The challenge is, at this point, the ice time is very limited. Most schools have already locked up their time.”
Hull, who continues to be in consultation with Town Counsel on the matter, wanted the residents to know that the town has done nothing wrong.
“The action the town has taken to this point, namely the [Special Town Meeting vote], in no way has communicated anything other than the fact that the town may be interested in purchasing the rink,” said Hull.
Several Board of Selectmen members sounded off later in the meeting.
“Now everyone has a better understanding of who we’re dealing with,” said an angry Selectman Lou Cimaglia, who referred to Rotondo as “classless.”
“[Rotondo] is clearly taking a business process out on the youth of Wilmington, stripping sports from Wilmington kids,” said a frustrated Selectwoman Judy O’Connell. “I think that’s terrible. Absolutely terrible.”
Wilmington Apple 
robert have you talked to Rotondo? I’d be fascinated to hear what he has to say about all this.
Definitely sounds like a negotiating tactic .
Email is out to Mr. Rotondo. Glad to tell his side if he wants to share it.
Why is Mr Hull dening any potential wrong doing by the town when no one has stated that there was? Also why isn’t there any input from Mr Rotondo? Was he not approached by the reporter so he could perhaps tell a complete picture of a story? Perhaps there is more to this story then just some angry selectmen or Mr Hull????
Just sent an email out to Mr. Rotondo. Glad to tell his side if he wants to share it. Will definitely run a follow-up piece.