Link back to Country Club Management Committee page
MINUTES OF JANUARY 12, 2010
MEETING OF THE COUNTRY CLUB MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CCMC)
AT THE SOUTH SHORE COUNTRY CLUB (SSCC)
Members Present: Paul Casey, Terry Clarke, Kerry Ryan, and William Friend.
Others Attending: Jay McGrail, SSCC’s Director of Operations.
With a quorum present, the meeting was, called to order at 6:50PM.
Jay McGrail opened the meeting by calling for questions or comments on the minutes of the committee’s November 16, 2009 meeting, which were previously forwarded to the committee members for review. After a short discussion, on motion duly made and seconded, the minutes of the November 16, 2009 meeting were unanimously approved.
Following approval of the minutes, Jay McGrail updated the committee on SSCC administrative and operational matters:
He commenced with a discussion of the liquor license application and transfer process, advising the committee that the liquor license renewal application had been approved and that he expected the request to change the “Manager” to Elio Ricci to be approved in the next few days. He noted that, with that approval in place, the town and the CCMC’s application for transfer of the holder of record on the license from the, CCMC, dba South Shore Country club to the town selectmen, dba South Shore Country Club could be completed. He noted further that the Management Services Agreement with Elio Ricci and the transfer application have been completed and delivered to the town for review.
Upon completion of this discussion, Jay McGrail, Kerry Ryan and William Friend updated the committee on the plans presented by Elio Ricci for the renovation of the food and beverage facilities and then took the committee members on a tour of the facilities for a more detailed understanding of the plans.
Following the tour of the food and beverage facilities, the committee listened to a presentation by Jay McGrail concerning the potential location of a cell phone tower on the golf course. He explained to the committee that, as requested, he had contacted town counsel for a legal opinion on whether there were restrictions on use golf course land for a tower and that he was still waiting for a response. He also noted that he was certain that there is interest in the tower and that he was advised the tower might generate around $1,400.00 a month in revenue for the SSCC. The committee discussed potential locations and designs of the tower and discussed the steps necessary to lease space for the tower. However, there was not a consensus of opinions among the committee members for or against authorizing the commencement of the process. It was agreed that more information concerning the size and design of the tower and its supporting facilities as well as a better understanding of the restrictions on the transfer of golf course property were needed before the committee could act. Jay Mc Grail was asked to locate a representative of the cell phone tower industry to explain the project to the committee at a future meeting.
A question then arose with regard to the status of the Litchfield house. Jay McGrail advised the committee that a CPC hearing to consider the committee’s funding request was scheduled for January 27th and that he was asked to make a presentation at the hearing in support of the funding request. He also advised that he had cleaned the area around the house to eliminate encroaching trees and brush and that the trash and debris inside of the house had been removed. The committee then discussed with Jay McGrail the alternatives available to them with regard to the house and agreed upon the best way to proceed. It was agreed that the funding request should be reduced to the amount needed to immediately repair the roof and windows to prevent further deterioration of the house and Jay McGrail was asked to obtain written contractor bids for this work. The presentation to the CPC on the 27th would be limited to a request for the funds to needed to make the roof and window repairs with an explanation that this would allow the committee time to explore alternative uses for the house that would best benefit the community.
Jay McGrail followed with a report on the pool facilities, explaining that he had retained a structural engineer to look into the cause of leaking in the repair shop below the pool area. He then reviewed the information provided to him by the engineer on the cause of the leaks and the engineer’s suggestions for repair of the problem. After a discussion of the matters presented, Jay McGrail was asked to obtain a written cost estimate for the work needed.
Jay McGrail then reminded the committee of its prior discussions with regard to the upcoming agreement for management of the SSCC pool operations, advising that he had prepared an RFP for a three-year operating agreement and, as directed, has included in the instructions for responding to the RFP a stipulation that the revenues generated by the pool operator must, at a minimum, cover the operating costs. He noted that he has circulated the RFP for review and that he expects to issue it in February.
Jay McGrail followed the pool discussions with a report on the children’s summer tennis programs, stating that, in spite of efforts to find others, only the current tennis pro has expressed interest in running these programs. He then requested and received approval to enter into a one-year deal with the current tennis pro.
Jay McGrail continued with an update on his planned drainage ditch cleaning project for the golf course, advising that the engineering work on the project had been completed and that he would be presenting his plan for cleaning the drainage ditches to the conservation committee the following Monday. He noted that, if approved, the cleaning of the drainage ditches would make the area around the ditches more usable and improve existing wetlands on the golf course.
The meeting was concluded with a review of revenues received in December and an update on the number of permit holders that have signed up early for the 2010 golf season.
Thereafter, on motion duly made and seconded and unanimously agreed to, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
William K Friend