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MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 3, 2010
MEETING OF THE COUNTRY CLUB MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (“CCMC”)
HELD AT THE SOUTH SHORE COUNTRY CLUB (“SSCC”)
Members Present: Paul Casey, Kerry Ryan, and William Friend.
Others Attending: Jay McGrail, SSCC’s Director of Operations and Susan Sullivan, a consultant to the CCMC were present for the entire meeting. Kevin Paicos, Town Administrator; Betty Foley, Assistant Town Administrator; Laura Burns and John Riley, members of the Board of Selectmen; and Elio Ricci, Frank Ricci and John Mongeau, owners and representatives of Raffael’s, the SSCC’s new food and beverage operator were all present for the final segment of the meeting when they participated in a tour of the SSCC food and beverage facilities to see the work being done to remodel these facilities.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00AM. A quorum was present at the commencement of the meeting and remained present throughout the meeting.
Jay McGrail opened the meeting with a report on several pending SSCC administrative matters. He commenced with an update on the Litchfield house, a vacant house located on the SSCC property, advising the members of the work he had done in and around the house and reporting on his January 27th meeting with the town’s Community Preservation Committee (“CPC”). He explained that, as directed by the CCMC, he had removed the trees around the house that were damaging the roof and foundation of the house and that he had also obtained quotes for the repair of the roof of the house.
He then advised the committee that he had submitted a proposal to the CPC requesting funds to repair the roof of the Litchfield house, consistent with the quotes he had received from local roofing contractors, and that he and several members of the CCMC participated in a January 27th meeting of the CPC where the funding request was reviewed and discussed. He noted that some CPC members at the meeting seemed to be supportive of his request but, in the end, it appeared that, if funding were to be approved by the CPC, it would be for an amount less than the roof repair quotes he had received. He further noted that the CPC’s position with regard to the funding request appeared to be that funding for a temporary fix was all that should be done until definitive plans for the restoration and use of the house could be developed and presented for further review and consideration by the CPC. It was also his understanding, based on comments made at the meeting, that any funds offered would come with stipulations that could restrict the CCMC’s options for developing the house and the property in the future. The CCMC members present, who also participated in the meeting with the CPC agreed with Jay McGrails conclusions with regard to the proposed funding approach and potential restrictions.
After a discussion of its available, alternative courses of action with regard to the Litchfield House, on motion duly made and seconded, the CCMC voted unanimously to withdrawal its request for CPC funds. Jay McGrail was then asked to forward a letter to the CPC, thanking them for their input and informing them of the decision of the CCMC not continue with the fund request at this time.
Jay McGrail followed with a report on the Request for Proposals (“RFP”) required for issuance of a new management contract for the SSCC swimming pool, reminding the CCMC members of their prior discussions with regard the proposed RFP and explaining that he had revised the RFP to require a business plan that reflected the funding modifications previously requested by the CCMC. He noted that the revised RFP had been reviewed by Kerry Ryan and the Town Administrator and then asked the CCMC to approve the RFP and to authorize it to be issued. Thereafter, on motion duly made and seconded, the RFP, in the form presented to the committee, was unanimously approved for issuance. In the course of this discussion the committee also agreed that the pool should be opened on June 21, 2010 to be consistent with the end of the school year.
Upon conclusion of the pool discussions, Jay McGrail update the CCMC on the status of SSCC golf membership applications for the coming year, stating that, as of the February 1, 2010 deadline for the 5% discount on membership fees, he had received approximately 200 applications. He noted that several of the membership applications were from individuals formerly belonging to other clubs on the South Shore and added that he was encouraged by this response and expected the membership numbers to continue to grow in the months leading up to the spring golf season.
Jay McGrail continued his administrative report with a reminder of the deadline for the ethics test that is to be taken by all town employees, volunteers and consultants. He then offered to set up his computer so that the test could be taken by committee members after the meeting.
At this time, the Town Selectmen and Town Administrators, as well as Elio Ricci, Frank Ricci and John Mongeau joined the meeting. After introductions, Elio Ricci, with the assistance of Frank Ricci and John Mongeau, showed the Town Selectmen, Town Administrators and the CCMC members the work being done on the SSCC restaurant and banquet facilities. During this tour of the facilities, the remodeling plans and the work in progress were reviewed and discussed.
Following the tour and discussion of the remodeling project, on motion duly made and seconded the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
William K. Friend