AUBURN — The future of Ingersoll Arena will likely be settled by a new Recreation and Special Events Committee, councilors agreed Monday.

But some councilors said they were impatient to find out how the city’s old ice arena would be closed up until it can be reused and wanted to be sure residents’ ideas were considered before future uses were decided.

“I think the community has some ideas and thoughts about that,” Councilor Leroy Walker said. “I was at the closing of Ingersoll on Sunday when we shut it down. Out of 100 people, I bet 50 had an idea of what we should do. I think you should have their ideas in place before the advisory board starts making demands on what we would see there.”

Crews are shutting down Ingersoll this week, moving the arena’s boards and other hockey equipment to the second ice surface in the new Norway Savings Bank Arena in time for a Dec. 6 opening.

Public Services Director Denis D’Auteuil said the question of the building’s fate is the right one to ask the new recreation group. Councilors said Monday they’d take applications to join that seven-member group through Dec. 2, and would appoint the new group soon after that.

The committee will work to review existing recreation areas — athletic fields, courts, hiking areas — and existing recreation needs. Staff has created an inventory of those uses, and the committee will review what areas should be expanded.

“After that, the board would take all of that data and report back to you,” he said. “There would be a public hearing and then we could move forward with the repurposing of Ingersoll Arena.”

D’Auteuil said he expects councilors will have suggestions to choose from before the 2014-15 budget discussions begin this winter.

Potential uses discussed for the old ice rink include an indoor turf facility for soccer, lacrosse or other athletics.

Walker said he was anxious to find out what’s going to happen.

“I have a problem with your time frame,” Walker said. “If you take six or eight months, we need to know exactly what is going to go on there. How are you going to shut it down? How will you keep moisture out of the building? We need to know these things.”

Councilor Tizz Crowley agreed, saying residents want to know how the building will be preserved while the uses are considered.

“I have been waiting answers for a very basic question, which is what happens tonight or when the boards are gone and the ice is gone?” Crowley said. “Do we lock the door and walk away? What do we do?”

D’Auteuil said staff would release their maintenance plan to get the building ready for the winter to the  public this week.

But Councilor Joshua Shea cautioned the city not to rush to any decisions with the building.

“It doesn’t make sense in any business venture to hurry,” Shea said. “If you have to mothball it for a year while you deal with the budget process and just put it in Styrofoam, just do that.”

Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said staff worked hard enough getting the new arena built.

“There are only so many pieces, so many major public works projects we can do in any given two-, three- or four-month period,” LaBonte said. “I’m happy to see the intention diverting back to preserve this asset, but I think you have us going in the right direction.”

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