Belmont Select Board Punts on Rink Name, Orders Police Chief Search

BELMONT — August 11, 2025 — Belmont's Select Board deferred a decision on naming the town's new ice rink and launched a search for a new police chief at its August 11 meeting. Three residents urged the board during public comment to honor the July 23 special town meeting vote — roughly 55 percent in favor — to name the rink after the late Skip Figueroa; one resident, Wendy Murphy, read from a draft lawsuit she said she would file if the board disregards the vote, alleging ultra vires action and separation-of-powers violations. Member Elizabeth Dionne countered that the board's own naming policy requires a one-year waiting period following an individual's death and that no process has been run to consider other names, including those of women, noting only two town assets currently bear a woman's name. Chair Matt Taylor floated a possible hybrid — naming the ice-sheet portion for Figueroa while giving the broader multi-sport complex a community-oriented name to preserve future sponsorship potential, citing a Gloucester precedent where a company paid $500,000 over 10 years for co-naming rights on a school stadium. The board placed the rink name back on the agenda for August 25, the same date Police Chief Jamie McIsaac retires after 26 years with the department; Assistant Chief Mark Curley is expected to be nominated as interim chief at that meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve an $800,000 no-interest MWRA water loan and to accept a $35,000 donation from the Friends of the Council on Aging.