The Memorial Arena Subcommittee

The official mandate of the Memorial Arena Subcommittee is:

1. To provide recommendations to City Council on potential creative future uses of the Memorial Arena that are representative of its present condition, design and configuration and, that appropriately leverages its strategic downtown Belleville location and cultural capital. And, such recommendations will take into consideration the Recreation,Culture and Community Services business and operations plan for the newly
expanded Quinte Sports Centre, and related community centre facilities.

2. To develop and oversee a formal, open and transparent consultation process. The consultation process will provide opportunities for individuals, groups and organizations, from many constituencies including public and private, to provide well developed ideas and related supporting information for the future use(s) of the Memorial Arena.

Source: city of Belleville website

Jack Miller, Belleville city coucillor and member of the Memorial Arena Subcommittee, explains the process by which interested parties may be involved as well as the role the subcommittee plays.

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Miller has a special interest in what happens to the Memorial Arena for sentimental reasons, and is familiar with the building's problems.

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Mark Fluhrer, the director of Recreation, Culture and Community Services in Belleville and part of the support staff in the subcommittee, explains his role in advising the subcommittee.

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Fluhrer also expressed his feelings on the amount of time he and his department have spent and will spend on advising the subcommittee on what to do.

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A subcommittee meeting was held at the Belleville city council chambers on December 1, 2011. A motion was passed to close the Request for Proposal period on January 19, 2012, which will also be the date when the proposals will be made public. Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis, who is the chair of the subcomittee, informs the media of the progress made by the subcommittee and of the proposals sent into it.

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The public reaction to the future of the Memorial Arena has been noted by the members of the subcomittee. Many are not pleased with the idea of the Memorial Arena being demolished if there is no practical use for it, and have made their voices heard on the issue. Both Miller and Fluhrer, respectively, acknowledge the public needs to have a say in the matter.

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