Norwich – The City Council on Monday voted unanimously in favor of preparing a request for proposals for an outside firm to take over operations at the Norwich Municipal Ice Rink and lease the facility from the city for an annual fee.

The City Council is currently being asked by the Ice Rink Authority to spend $680,000 to replace a failed cooling system and other equipment. The council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on April 21 on the request.

The city has been subsidizing the rink because of annual losses and the $680,000 would bring the total debt to the city to over $1 million.