HomeMy WebLinkAbout07051983 GCMINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF GOLF COURSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS - JULY 5, 1983
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN ARTHUR TROWBRIDGE AT 8:00 A.M.
PRESENT: CHAIRMAN ARTHUR TROWBRIDGE, DANIEL MELIA, DON LIVINGSTON, DONALD
VICKERS, CLAY PRICE, DAVID N:TSBET, HARRY MORRIS AND CITY ATTORNEY DANIEL
KILBRIDE.
IN
ABSENT: CARROLL SIMES ( OUT OF TOWN)
IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM MR. NISBE T, ATTORNEY KILBRIDE EXPLAINED THAT
THIS IS A LEGAL MEETING AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC
SINCE THE CITY CLERK WAS REQUESTED ON FRIDAY, JULY 1 TO SCHEDULE IT. SHE, IN
TURN, NOTIFIED THE NEWSPAPERS WHO DID NOT PRINT IT. HOWEVER, NO ADVERTISEMENT
IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TYPE OF MEETING. ALL THAT IS NECESSARY IS FOR A NOTICE
TO BE DISPLAYED IN CITY HALL FOR INSPECTION BY THE PUBLIC. THIS WAS DONE.
CHAIRMAN TROWBRIDGE STATED THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL
FROM ROGER HALL REGARDING THE POSITION OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER. THE
QUESTION WAS RAISED AS TO WHETHER THIS POSITION HAS TO BE ADVERTISED. ATTORNEY
KILBRIDE ADVISED THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ADVERTISE. IF THE BOARD HAS SOME-
ONE THEY WANT TO CONSIDER WITHOUT CONSIDERING ANYONE ELSE, THEY CAN DO THAT.
CHAIRMAN TROWBRIDGE REMARKED THAT WE ARE NOT HERE TO HIRE SOMEONE THIS MORNING,
JUST TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL.
IN.RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM MR. MELIA, MR. NISBET STATED THAT EVERYTHING
WAS GOING ALL RIGHT, NO PROBLEMS.
MR. MORRIS ASKED MR. HALL HOW HE PLANNED TO REDUCE THE PRESENT OVERHEAD,
PAYROLL AND WASTE. MR. HALL STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE WAY IT WORKS NOW,
PERSON IS HIRED AT A SPECIFIED WAGE (FLORIDA MINIMUM WAGE) INSTEAD OF PAYING
A WAGE SUBSIDIZED BY GRATUITIES AS IS NORMAL IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS. BY
CROSS -TRAINING ONE PERSON CAN DO TWO JOBS AND STILL ONLY WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK.
SOME OTHER PEOPLE CAN BE ELIMINATED BY HAVING SOMEONE THERE WHO CAN COOK, BAR
TEND, RUN THE LITTLE SHACK OUTSIDE, DO JANITOR WORK, ETC. CAN ELIMINATE ALL
THE WAITRESSES SITTING DOWN DRINKING COFFEE. THE OVERHEAD BY GOOD COST CONSCIOUS
USE OF FOOD, LIQUOR, ETC. MR. MORRIS STATED IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT A CITY
EMPLOYEE MUST BE PAID THE MINIMUM WAGE. THERE IS NO CHOICE. MR. HALL WAS OF THE
OPINION THAT THERE WERE T00 MANY EMPLOYEES. MR. LANCASTER SAID THE CITY IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THEIR SHARE OF SOCIAL SECURITY AT THE MINIMUM WAGE. ALL
GRATUITIES SHOULD BE REPORTED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL., IT WAS PROBABLY CONSIDERED
MORE EXPEDIENT TO PAY MINIMUM WAGE RATHER THAN SET UP GRATUITIES IN THE COMPUTER.
MR. MORRIS ASKED WHAT HE MEANT BY "WITH MY OWN FUNDS, BUY EQUIPMENT NEEDED--".
MR. HALL REPLIED THAT THERE IS NO OVEN IN THE KITCHEN WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT
TO DO ANY TYPE OF DECENT FOOD OPERATION. MR. MORRIS STATED THAT OUR ORIGINAL
INTENT WAS TO SET UP A FAST FOOD SERVICE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO SPACE. MR. HALL
SAID THAT BETTER UTILIZATION OF SPACE WOULD MAKE'ROOM FOR AN OVEN AND YOU WOULD
HAVE SOMEWHERE TO PUT MORE POTS. IT'S TOO RESTRICTED RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE
ADVANCED BEYOND THE STAGE OF COLD SANDWICHES. YOU CAN ELIMINATE BRINGING FOOD
IN FROM OUTSIDE FOR PARTIES. IT WOULD BE VERY PROFITABLE. WOULDN'T NECESSARILY
HAVE TO ENLARGE THE MENU BUT COULD HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS ON IT TO APPEAL TO THE
PUBLIC THAT WOULD BRING IN MORE BUSINESS.
WITH REFERENCE TO "INCREASE QUALITY AND SERVICE AS WELL AS GROSS INCOME", MR.
LIVINGSTON STATED THAT GROSS INCOME WITHOUT A NET INCOME DOESN'T SUFFICE. HE
WOULD BE INCLINED TO LOOK AT THE NET INCOME. MR. HALL STATED THAT IF A GOOD
GROSS IS COMING IN, AND OVERHEAD AND COSTS ARE CUT, THE NET IS GOING TO GO UP.
�1 MR. PRICE ASKED MR. HALL HOW MUCH HE PLANNED TO SPEND AND HE STATED THAT WAS
KIND OF NEBULOUS. TO UTILIZE THE SPACE A REASONABLY PRICED PARTITION FROM
THE FIRST DOOR OVER TO THE BAR WITH A BLIND DOOR. NOT ACTUALLY A DOOR, BUT A
PLACE TO WALK TO AND FROM THE KITCHEN. PEOPLE WOULD NOT THEN BE LOOKING
DIRECTLY INTO THE KITCHEN. THE TOP OF THE PARTITION COULD BE USED AS A COUNTER
FOR THE WAITRESS TO PICK UP THE FOOD. YOU WOULD GAIN MORE SPACE FOR EQUIPMENT
WHICH WOULD NOT BE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC. WOULD ALSO CUT DOWN NOISE. THIS IS
WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT - A FEW PIECES OF WOOD, AT LEAST ONE STOVE AND OVEN.
ALSO A SMALL GRILL. WOULD GO SHOPPING TO A RESTAURANT THAT'S GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS OR TO SOME OF HIS CONTACTS IN MIAMI AND PICK UP EQUIPMENT AT A LOW
COST. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUT OUT BETTER FOOD. HAVE A DECENT LUNCH AND AN
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL. WOULD LIKE TO KEEP OPEN UNTIL AT LEAST 9:00 P.M., NOT
NECESSARILY FOR THE RESTAURANT, BUT TO GIVE YOU TIME TO HAVE THE EARLY BIRD
SPECIAL, CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN AND GET OUT. PEOPLE WILL WANT COCKTAILS AFTER
DINNER. THERE WOULD BE GROUPS UTILIZING THE CLUB HOUSE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
OFFERED. MR. NESBIT MENTIONED THAT IF THE KITCHEN AREA WAS ENCLOSED, THE PLACE
WOULD HAVE TO BE AIR CONDITIONED. MR. HALL REMARKED THAT THE AIR FLOW WOULD
NOT BE RESTRICTED. ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS TWO FANS - ONE INTAKE, ONE OUTTAKE.
MR. MORRIS ASKED WHAT ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO REIMBURSE MR. HALL. ATTORNEY
KILBRIDE ADVISED THAT PROVISION WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
MR. MORRIS WANTED TO KNOW IF HE RESIGNED BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW BUDGET,
WOULD HE TAKE THE EQUIPMENT WITH HIM. MR. HALL REPLIED THAT HIS PROPOSAL STATES
THAT IT BECOMES THE IMMEDIATE PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN. IT IS NOT THE
FIRST TIME HE HAS DONATED TO THE GOLF COURSE KITCHEN. HE DONATED KNIVES, GLASSES,
POTS, PANS, AND ASKED FOR NO REIMBURSEMENT. HE DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
AROUND. HE JUST PROPOSED THINGS TO ENHANCE THE PLACE. HE WANTS TO GET GOOD
THINGS AS CHEAPLY AS HE CAN. ATTORNEY KILBRIDE SAID A LIST OF THE PROPOSED
PURCHASES TOGETHER WITH COST WOULD HAVE TO BE DRAWN UP FOR APPROVAL BY THE BOARD.
MR. MELIA ASKED IF A MICRO WAVE OVEN WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR HEATING OF PREPARED
SANDWICHES AND MR. HALL STATED HE WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF IT. COLD SANDWICHES, PRE-
PARED AHEAD OF TIME, COULD BE SERVED AFTER 3:00 P.M. WHEN KITCHEN WOULD BE CLOSED
IN PREPARATION FOR THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL. ALSO, THE HOT DOG SHACK COULD BE
BETTER UTILIZED.
MR. PRICE COMMENTED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS POSTPONED TO GIVE LUCY A
CHANCE TO MAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS. MR. NISBET AND HE SEE NO PROBLEMS WITH HER
OPERATIONS.
MOTION BY MR. NISBET, SECONDED BY MR. PRICE, THAT WE FORMALIZE AN ANNOUNCEMENT
TO THE PAPERS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR A FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER, IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE CITY CHARTER, AND HAVE THE PEOPLE MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS IN THE SAME
MANNER AT THE NEXT MEETING.
MR. MELIA SAID HE HATED TO SEE THIS POSTPONED. LUCY IS HERE. SHE MIGHT WANT
TO TELL US HER IDEAS. MR. LANCASTER IS HERE. IS HE SATISFIED WITH THE OPERATION?
WE MIGHT NOT WANT TO CHANGE. MR. NISBET STATED THAT LUCY MIGHT NOT BE PREPARED
AND ALSO HE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY CHARTER BY ADVERTISING
IN THE PAPER. CHAIRMAN TROWBRIDGE REMARKED THAT -THAT QUESTION HAD BEEN ANSWERED
EARLIER AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO HIRE. THERE FOLLOWED A DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS THE POWER TO HIRE/FIRE SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL. MR. MELIA
WAS OF THE OPINION WE CAN'T MANAGE THE GOLF COURSE IF WE DO NOT HAVE SUCH A RIGHT.
ATTORNEY KILBRIDE ADVISED THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE FORMATION
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IT GAVE THE BOARD THE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THE
OPERATION OF THE GOLF COURSE. IT DID NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY YOU COULD HIRE AND FIRE.
- 2 -
IT APPARENTLYIB EE N OPERATING AS IF YOU DID NOT. IN ATTORNEY KILBRIDE'S OPINION,
IF YOU ARE GOING TO MANAGE, YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. THE WAY TO CLARIFY
THAT IS TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE AUTHORITY AND AMEND THE ORDINANCE.
FOR TODAY, IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD BE A RECOMMEND-
ATION TO THE COUNCIL.
IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM VICE MAYOR FITZMAURICE, CHAIRMAN TROWBRIDGE STATED
THAT AT THE TIME MR. CLEDES' RESIGNED, THERE WAS NO ADVERTISEMENT PLACED IN THE
PAPER SINCE HE RECOMMENDED TO'MAYOR FLOOD THAT LUCY TAKE OVER TEMPORARILY UNTIL
SOMETHING COULD BE DONE. THERE WAS NO CONTRACT WITH MR. CLEDES. HE WAS HIRED
AT A CERTAIN SALARY PLUS 3% OF THE GROSS. WE HVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CITY DOES
NOT GIVE OUT SUCH CONTRACTS. MR. VICKERS REMARKED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE
BOARD WAS EVER INFORMED OF THE CONDITION UNDER WHICH MR. CLEDES WAS HIRED.
LUCY WAS ASKED IF SHE HAD ANY STATEMENT AND REPLIED THAT SHE WAS NOT PREPARED
TO DO SO, BUT ADDED THERE WERE MANY THINGS IN MR. HALL'S PROPOSAL THAT SHE
AGREED WITH.
MR. MELIA REMARKED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WE WERE LOOKING FOR A MANAGER. HE
DIDN'T KNOW IF LUCY WAS GOING TO STAY IN THE JOB. HOW CAN WE PASS THE MOTION
BEING DISCUSSED? HE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL A REPLY WAS RECEIVED FROM LUCY.
MR. NISBET THOUGHT LUCY WOULD REPLY AS PER THE ADVERTISEMENT. CHAIRMAN TROW-
BRIDGE ASKED AGAIN FOR CLARIFICATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE POSITION HAS TO
BE ADVERTISED. AFTER CHECKING THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, ATTORNEY
KILBRIDE SAID THAT EMPLOYEES CAN BE PROMOTED TO SUPERVISORY POSITIONS WITHOUT
ADVERTISING. MR. MELIA WAS STILL NOT SURE IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE. APPARENTLY
SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR TO HER, BUT IT WAS POINTED
^UT THAT SHE COULD REPLY TO THE AD AND HER PAST PERFORMANCE WOULD BE GIVEN CON-
I'N SIDERATION.
MR. PRICE WITHDREW HIS SECOND; MR. NISBET WITHDREW HIS MOTION.
MOTION BY MR. NISBET, SECONDED BY MR. PRICE, TO DELAY ACTION ON MR. HALL'S
REQUEST UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING, AT WHICH TIME LUCY IS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE HER
PRESENTATION. THE BOARD CAN THEN MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE FOOD AND
BEVERAGE MANAGER. CARRIED.
CHAIRMAN TROWBRIDGE ANNOUNCED THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS ON THE AGENDA
THAT WERE CONSIDERED OF AN EMERGENCY NATURE AND NEED TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS BEING GIVEN OUT FOR THE GOLF COURSE TO ANYONE AND
EVERYONE. ATTORNEY KILBRIDE STATED IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT COMPLIMENTARY
GREENS FEES TICKETS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE COMMUNITY FOR A FREE GREENS
FEE. NO CIVIC ORGANIZATION, AS SUCH, WAS BEHIND THIS. THE TICKETS WERE JUST
PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED , PRESUMABLY ON THE PRO'S AUTHORITY, OR THIS BOARD'S
AUTHORITY. THIS IS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE BOND COVENANT COVERING NO FREE
SERVICES. YOU CAN OFFER REDUCED PRICES, ETC., BUT NOTHING CAN BE GIVEN WITHOUT
SOMEBODY PAYING SOMETHING. THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE CHAIRMAN LAST WEEK
AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS BOARD TAKE SOME STEPS TO DEAL WITH THIS.
MR. MELIA READ A LETTER DATED JUNE 30 HE WROTE TO MR. LADD INSTRUCTING HIM
TO -DISCONTINUE ISSUING AND HONORING THESE PASSES UNTIL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CAN TAKE SOME ACTION. MR. LADD WAS ASKED TO SIGN AND RETURN ONE COPY OF THE
LETTER, WHICH SO FAR HE HAS NOT DONE. THE CLERKS OUT THERE WERE ALSO ASKED TO
INITIAL IT SO THEY WOULD KNOW THEY WERE NOT TO BE HONORED. MR. MELIA FELT THIS
WAS NOT HANDLED IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER AND DID NOT REMEMBER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EVER VOTING ON DOING THIS.
- 3 -
MOTION BY MR. MELIA, SECONDED BY MR. VICKERS, THAT WE HAVE NO COMPLIMENTARY
GREENS FEES TICKETS AT OUR GOLF COURSE. CARRIED.
.-/O*�
ATTORNEY KILBRIDE STATED THAT THE WAY THE MOTION WAS WORDED, IT TERMINATES THE
ISSUING OF ANY NEW ONES, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ONES ALREADY ISSUED AND THE PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT COME EXPECTING A FREE GAME?
MOTION BY MR. MELIA; SECONDED BY MR. NISBET, THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ENDORSE
THE DIRECTIVE WRITTEN TO MR..LADD. CARRIED.
MR. MELIA REMARKED THAT HE HAD NO IDEA.HOW MANY PASSES ARE OUTSTANDING AND WE
MAY BE GIVING OURSELVES A BLACK EYE, BUT IT WAS NOT FAIR TO'THE REGULAR MEMBERS.
MR. MORRIS STATED HE WAS TOLD THERE WERE 5,000 ISSUED AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
MR. LIVINGSTON RECOMMENDED THAT THE SPECIAL PACKAGE BE CHANGED FROM 5:00 P.M.
TO 3:00 P.M. - $6. A PERSON., $12. A COUPLE, INCLUDES CART AND GREENS FEES.
(RIDING ONLY). NOT MUCH ACTIVITY AFTER 2:00 P.M. AND WE COULD USE THE REVENUE.
MR. MORRIS WAS OPPOSED TO THIS. HE THOUGHT THE ONLY PACKAGE WE NEEDED WAS THE
$8. ONE. MR. MELIA AGREED WITH THIS AND ADDED THAT IF WE WEREN'T GETTING THE
PLAY, IT MIGHT BE FEASIBLE TO CLOSE THE COURSE EARLY AND SAVE PAYING SALARIES.
MR. LYVINGSTON MENTIONED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO COMPETE WITH OTHER COURSES AT
3 AND 4 O'CLOCK.
MOTION BY MR. LIVINGSTON, SECONDED BY MR. VICKERS, TO CHANGE THE PACKAGE FROM
5:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: MR. PRICE
MR. LIVINGSTON
MR. VICKERS
MR. NISBET
NAYS: MR. MORRIS
MR. MELIA
CHAIRMAN TROWBRIDGE MOTION CARRIED.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:05 A.M.
w
A