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MINUTES OF APRIL 5, 2010
Members Present: Paul Casey, Terry Clarke, Kerry Ryan, and William Friend.
Others Attending: Jay McGrail, SSCC’s Director of Operations and Susan Sullivan, consultant to the CCMC were present for the entire meeting. Elio Ricci and Frank Ricci, the owners of Raffael’s, the SSCC’s new food and beverage operator, were present for a tour of the food and beverage facilities at the end of the meeting.
With a quorum present, the meeting was, called to order at 8:45AM.
Jay McGrail opened the meeting with a report on the golf memberships, advising the committee that, due to an influx of new members the annual memberships were getting close to the agreed upon 300 membership limit. He then explained that he would be alerting last year’s members who have not renewed their membership that, to avoid being closed out, they should promptly renew. In response to questions from the committee members, he then explained the reasons for the increased interest in SSCC golf memberships, including the improved payment alternatives, this year’s increased marketing efforts and the added incentives for membership-such as members only parties and the offering of free lockers to the members who want them. The committee members were pleased with these results and congratulated Jay McGrail for his successful 2010, membership campaign.
After the membership report, Jay McGrail asked the committee members for their questions or comments with regard to the minutes of the February 23, 2010, March 02, 2010 and March 23, 2010 meetings. The minutes had been forwarded to committee members for review prior to the meeting. Language changes were suggested and accepted by the committee and thereafter, on motion duly made and seconded, the committee voted unanimously to approve the committee meeting minutes, as corrected.
Following the discussion of the minutes, Jay McGrail and William Friend updated the committee on the status of the pending liquor license transfer application. The update started with a review of the process to date, and included a discussion of the comments recently made to Bob Orsi, CCMC’s attorney for the liquor license application, by representatives of Massachusetts’ ABCC and Bob Orsi’s recommendations with regard to these comments. Bob Orsi’s recommended that: 1) the CCMC authorize the transfer of the liquor license to Vista Verdi Corp., as requested by the ABCC, instead of to the town of Hingham, as previously contemplated; 2) that, the CCMC also approve the resubmission of its request to expand the SSCC premises subject to the liquor license, to include the SSCC’s entire golf course and 3) that the Application and the request be processed separately, with the request being presented prior to the transfer application.
This led to a committee discussion that included concerns about how the town of Hingham and the SSCC would be legally protected, in the event, Vista Verdi Corp ever decided to transfer the license to another entity or to another location. In response to these concerns, it was explained that a law had been enacted by the Massachusetts’ legislature, on January 7, 2009, that specifically prohibits the licensing authority of the town of Hingham from approving the transfer of the South Shore Country Club liquor license to another location. Also discussed, were Bob Orsi’s proposals for a Lease Amendment and a supplemental agreement with Vista Verde Corp. and Elio Ricci that would restrict the transfer of the liquor license to any entity, other than the town of Hingham and would require the liquor license to be immediately transferred back to the town, at the end of the lease term or any early termination of the lease.
When this discussion was completed, the committee voted unanimously, to approve the resubmission of its request to expand the premises and the commencement of the abutter’s notification and other steps required to complete this process.
The committee also voted unanimously to approve the submission of the Application to transfer the liquor license for the SSCC premises to Vista Verde Corp.
The committee then authorized Jay McGrail, Kerry Ryan and William Friend to work with attorney Bob Orsi and the town of Hingham and to take any and all steps necessary, including the negotiation, execution and delivery of any Applications, Lease Amendments and such other documents and supplemental agreements reasonably required to implement the approved expansion of the premises and the authorized transfer of the liquor license applicable to the South Shore Country Club to Vista Verde Corp.
Jay McGrail followed the liquor license discussion with a presentation on the fees proposed to be charged for pool memberships, swimming lessons and swim team participation during the 2010 summer season. He explained that the fee schedule had been developed with the help of William Friend and Kerry Ryan and representatives of the YMCA. After a short discussion of the basis for determining each of the proposed fees, on motion duly made and seconded the 2010 fee schedule for the pool was approved.
Jay McGrail continued with a report on work he was planning to do in and around the driving range and on the golf course, advising the committee that the work, which includes removal of invasive plants in the wet lands portion of the driving range, and the removal of culverts on golf holes number 9,14, 3, and 18 would cost approximately $20,000. He further advised the committee that, before the work could be commenced, detailed plans must be prepared and submitted for environmental approvals and that he did not anticipate the actual work to commence until the next fiscal year. The committee authorized Jay McGrail to proceed with the preparation of the required plans and approved to the expenditure of the funds necessary to obtain the environmental approvals.
With Sue Sullivan’s assistance, Jay McGrail then reviewed the plans for the “Open House” scheduled to take place at the SSCC later in the day. The introduction of the honored invitees was discussed and an agenda for the 5:15PM ribbon cutting ceremony was agreed upon. Everyone then agreed to arrive at 4:15PM for a final rehearsal of the ceremony.
Following the completion of the matters on the meeting agenda, Terry Clarke requested that the committee consider reinstituting the Selectman’s Cup Golf Tournament. It was generally agreed that the Tournament would be good for the town and the SSCC and the committee asked Jay McGrail to determine why it was discontinued and whether or not it would be practical to reinstitute it.
Upon conclusion of the tournament discussion, the committee members toured SSCC’s renovated food and beverage facilities with Elio and Frank Ricci and, thereafter, on motion duly made and seconded, voted to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
William K Friend
Secretary