Here's why the initials GS are on this year's Gallo Ice Arena emblem, beneath the ice

BOURNE – The late Bourne Recreation Authority Chairman George Sala of North Sagamore is commemorated under center ice as the John Gallo Ice Arena at Sandwich Road re-opens for summer hockey and skating programs.

It's been 50 years since outside-the-box thinking led to rink construction financing.

Sala died in May. His initials GS are included in the Gallo emblem beneath the ice as part of annual arena re-conditioning directed by manager John Hickey, whose idea it was to remember Sala in the rink logo.

“I personalize the rink emblem every year,” Hickey said. “Doing something different. George was a fantastic chairman. He’ll be missed. He was in this rink when it opened up, playing hockey.”

Sala was also the retired Bourne Public Works director and served as a town recreation committee member and Community Center trustee.

Authority member Donald Pickard said honoring Sala is “a nice touch” and would be appreciated by Sala’s family.

The Gallo facility, operated by the Recreation Authority, is located on federal land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers at canal-side within sight of the Bourne Bridge. The rink is home ice to four high school hockey squads, including the Sandwich Lady Blue Knights.

Authority General Manager Barry Johnson said the rink continues to be “incredibly popular” not just with hockey enthusiasts but with skating programs as well. Sala, Johnson said, played a big part in assuring that continuing popularity.

How did the John Gallo Ice Arena come to be?

The Bourne Recreation Authority was created by the Legislature in 1970 and was not a direct part of town government. A 1971 amendment enabled the authority to lease federal land from the Corps of Engineers to construct recreational facilities. The amended state act in 1973 authorized the Town of Bourne to borrow up to $1 million to acquire land and construct a skating rink.

Building Gallo took years of planning. The idea for a rink set in the pine trees south of the canal started with an ambitious recreation master plan for the area.

Authority board members, led by the late construction company owner John Gallo of Sagamore, approached the board of selectmen to discuss financing options that would underwrite rink construction.

Town records show the late Ernest Forni and Jeremiah Cahir, along with then Selectman Johnson, embraced the idea to fund a $1 million note. The borrowing was authorized by a 1973 town meeting vote on Article 41. Authority member Joseph Labretto assured voters the request was merely for selectmen to co-sign the borrowing note.

Embracing authority debt service was bold move

From a public administration viewpoint, the decision to put an article on the town meeting warrant was risky and bold. The authority had no tangible collateral, but the town signed the note.

“It’s important to know the authority paid off the entire debt service,” Johnson said. “Even though the town incurred the debt, the authority did not and does not today have any taxing powers.“

Actually, the selectmen were in charge of the authority for 20 years; until the end of the bond issue “to protect the town’s interests.”

“We have to live on the revenue generated from both Bourne Scenic Park and the Gallo rink,” he said. “The authority currently does not have any debt payments due.”

For Gallo to be successful decades later, Scenic Park must flourish, given that campground revenue flows to pay much of rink operations and maintenance costs. In that respect, Johnson closely follows weather reports and patterns to determine any adverse impacts on campground bookings.

In 1973, authority member Joseph Labretto assured 1973 town meeting voters that Scenic Park was indeed “flourishing and our profits are good. All we need now is the borrowing power to float the (authority) loan” for a rink.

The rest, Johnson said, is history.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne Recreation Authority's George Sala honored at Gallo Ice Arena