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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06171986MAYOR HARRIS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M. COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY LED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: ABSENT: VICE MAYOR ROTH COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY COUNCILMAN RONDEAU COUNCILMAN VALLONE ATTORNEY PALMER MAYOR HARRIS NONE ALSO PRESENT: CAROL CARSWELL, FINANCE DIRECTOR; RAY LADD, GOLF COURSE MANAGER; GERALD NAPPI, DAVE PUSCHER, S.P.D. NONE. ----q MAYOR HARRIS BEGAN THE SPECIAL M~E~i~G O~THE GOLF COURSE BY EXPLAINING ITS PURPOSE. HE REQUESTED THAT PERSONALITIES~BE IoE_T ~3T OF THE DISCUSSION AND THAT ONLY FACTS AND CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS BE EXPRESSED. I- HE STATED THAT THE GOLF COURSE P~EWS~GO WAY BACK. HE SAID THERE ARE WIDENING DIFFERENCES OF VIEWPOINTS ON POLICY WHICH IS PART OF THE PROBLEM AND IT BECOMES COUNCIL'S JO~w-TQ~T~O~IG~ O~LT-~E[T~L~ S~-N~E ~OnF COURSE IS ONE OF MAYOR HARRIS ~AI~ TH~T~~F ~SE HAS RU~E~T~HAS~C FOLLOW SINCE IT IS A MUNICIPAL G~gUR~ ~S~C~)TO THE AUpI~qE~IE~L, BO~ COUNCIL, BOND COVENANT AND~ ~C~~ ~ ~ OE~LO~ ~%~ THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW, A DOCUMENTATAION OR PAPER TRAIL MUST BE ESTABLISHED FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE. HE SAID HE AND GOLF COURSE ~NAGER, ~Y LADD, HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE LACK OF DOCUMENTATION. MAYOR HARRIS P~ISED RAY LADD IN HIS CAPACITY AS A TEACHING PROFESSIONAL BUT STATED THAT HIS PAPERWO~ HAS BEEN L~. HE SAID HE HAS OFTEN BEEN AGG~VATED WITH MR. LADD BUT THE MEETINGS PURPOSE WAS TO TRY TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS AND NOT TO CAST BLAME. HE SAID TIME MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE MANAGER FOR THE MECESSARY PAPERWORK, RULES AND REGULATIONS HAVE TO BE PROVIDED AND FOLLOWED, ~TES AND PROMOTIONS MUST BE ESTABLISHED AND ~HERED TO. MAYOR HARRIS SAID HE HOPED THAT THESE THINGS COULD BE DISCUSSED A~ RESOLVED AT THIS MEETING OR IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. VICE MAYOR ROTH STATED THAT HE THOUGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RULES WERE TO HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT THIS MEETING AND THEN DISCUSSED FOR ESTABLISHMENT. HE SAID THAT SINCE NOTHING HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL HE WOULD LISTEN TO HIS FELLOW COUNCILMEN AND THOSE IN ATTENDANCE BEFORE COMMENT. COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY ALSO SAID HE THOUGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD WERE TO BE PRESENTED. HE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AT THE GOLF COURSE. HE SUGGESTED THAT A FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER BE HIRED OR A MANAGEMENT FIRM BE HIRED TO RUN THE ENTIRE GOLF COURSE. COUNCILMAN RONDEAU STATED THAT SINCE COUNCIL HAD NOT BEEN PRESENTED WITH A SET OF RULES, COUNCIL AND MR. LADD SHOULD ESTABLISH RULES AT THIS MEETING. HE RECOMMENDED THAT RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT RATES BE THE SAME AMOUNT. HE SAID HE FELT THAT NON- RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT RATES BE THE SAME AMOUNT. HE SAID HE FELT THAT NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS WOULD BE LOST TO THE NEW COUNTY GOLF COURSE IF THIS WAS NOT DONE. RAY LADD STATED THAT THE RATE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY $100.00; RESIDENT SINGLE IS $475.00; NON-RESIDENT SINGLE IS $575.00. RESIDENT MEMBERS TOTAL 133 AND NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS TOTAL 152. HE SAID THAT IF A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETIN~ JUNE 17, 1986 PAGE 2 $25.00 INCREASE WAS IMPLEMENTED REFLECTING A $500. SINGLE MEMBER FEE AND A $600. FAMILY MEMBER FEE FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS IT WOULD COME OUT TO ABOUT WHAT THE GOLF COURSE NOW TAKES IN IN MEMBERSHIP FEES. COUNCILMAN VALLONE STATED THAT THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH RAY LADD AS GOLF COURSE MANAGER. HE SAID WHEN RAY LADD WAS HIRED HE CLAIMED TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE GOLF COURSE WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND HIS BACK. COUNCILMAN VALLONE STATED THAT IN HIS OPINION MR. LADD IS UNABLE TO RUN THE GOLF COURSE WITH TWO HANDS AND IT IS TOO LATE TO MAKE COMPROMISES. HE RECOMMENDED A CHANGE AT THE GOLF COURSE. HE SAID HE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITIZENS OF SEBASTIAN WHO MAY SOME DAY BE ASKED TO PICK UP A $183,000.00 DEFICIT. AND EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEING RAILROADED BY THE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT. HE AGREED WITH COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY THAT THE GOLF COURSE SHOULD BE RUN BY A MANAGEMENT FIRM. RAY LADD STATED THAT THE RECENT AUDIT SHOWED THE GOLF COURSE LOSING MONEY BUT CLAIMED THAT WHEN HE CAME BACK TO THE GOLF COURSE IN 1985 HE TURNED THE GOLF COURSE AROUND FINANCIALLY, ESTHETICALLY AND COSMETICALLY. HE SAID THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS MAKING MONEY AND THE GOLF COURSE SHOWS A GROSS EXCESS PROFIT OF $330,000.00 AS OF APRIL OF THIS YEAR. EXPENSES SUCH AS INTEREST, PRINCIPAL AND NON-OPERATING REVENUE EQUAL BETWEEN $250,000.00 AND $275,/~%0~_H~/~A~-~ /-~E STATED, THE GOLF COURSE WILL SHOW A PROFIT AND THAT MONEY WILL 'HX~ TO GU- BKCK\A~E~ OFFSET LOSSES FOR THE TIME HE WASN'T MANAGER. ~ ~/ MR. LADD SAID HE PLEADED WITH C~CI~ LAS~ SEPTEMBER FOR A FULL-TIME ASSISTANT A~ WAS TURNED DO~. HE SAID HE REAL~' -- ' ~RE ~E P~LEMS WITH THE GOLF COURSE BUT THEY ARE BEING CORRECTED, THE GOLF COURSE IS MAKING MONEY AND WILL NEVER COST TAXPAYERS ANYTHING. HE SAID HE NEEDS HELP ~PE~S SOMEONE SHOULD BE HIRED TO HANDLE FISCAL ASPECTS AND HE COULD REMAIN TH~ ~LF P~ESSIONAL WITH A REDUCTION IN SALARY A~ RESPONSIBILITY. ~ AT THE TIME THTA THE BOND WAS PU~NT~EFFECT, HE SAID HE COULD WO~ WITH THAT PROVISION BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO OFFER SPECIAL GROUP ~TES A~ WORK WITH GOLF g STATED THAT H~D BE~ ~I~ A~I~Y T~ PREV~O~S/~A~MIN2$~ATION TO SET RATES AS MR. LADD SA~ ~I~A~E~A~RY ~AT ~~~I~iVE WO~ WAS NOT THE BEST AND SORRY THAT ALL THE MEMOS FROM MAYOR HARRIS H~ TO SU~ACE BECAUSE HE FELT HE AND THE ~YOR WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO IMPROVING THE SITUATION. HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN THE PROFESSIONAL AT THE GOLF COURSE. IN RESPONSE, MAYOR HARRIS STATED THAT EXCEPT WHEN MEMBERSHIPS WERE BEGINNING THE GOLF COURSE HAS ALWAYS SHOWN A LOSS. HE ALSO SAID IT IS NOT TRUE TO SAY THAT THE GOLF COURSE WILL NEVER BE SUPPORTED BY TAX DOLLARS. ATTORNEY PALMER STATED THAT HE HAS ADVISED MR. LADD THAT RULES ON RATES HAVE TO BE ESTABLISHED, ACCORDING TO CITY CODES. HE SAID THAT IN REFERENCE TO COUNCIL GRANTING MR. LADD THE AUTHORITY TO SET RATES, COUNCIL ALSO REQUESTED GUIDELINES FOR THE RATES AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING. MAYOR HARRIS POINTED OUT THAT THE RESOLUTION PASSED IN OCTOBER 1985 SETTING RATES AT THE GOLF COURSE DOES NOT DEAL WITH THE VARIETY OF RTES THAT EXIST NOW AT THE GOLF COURSE. WHEN ASKED BY VICE MAYOR ROTH WHAT PROMOTION AND MARKETING OF THE GOLF COURSE ENTAILS, ATTORNEY PALMER STATED THAT IN THE BOND COUNCIL'S OPINION, "NOTHING IS PROMOTIONAL UNLESS THE EXPENDITURE IS WITH A VIEW TO RECOVER MORE MONEY THAN THE EXPENDITURE ITSELF". MAYOR HARRIS AGAIN REINTERATED THAT IT SHOULD BE MR. LADD'S PRIME INTEREST TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK THAT HE HAS REQUESTED AND TO SET STRICT RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEN VICE MAYOR ROTH QUESTIONED WHAT THE GOLF COURSE BOOKKEEPER'S DUTIES WERE, MAYOR HARRIS STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE S.O.P. HER DUTIES INCLUDE: BANK DEPOSITS, PiCK UP MAIL, POST DAILY REPORTS TO GENERAL LEDGERS, PROCESS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, ISSUE CHECKS, ACCEPT AND PROCESS APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MEMBERSHIPS, OPERATE AND PROVIDE ALL COMPUTER FUNCTIONS AND FINALIZE MONTHLY REPORTS. 2 JUNE 17, 1986 PAGE 3 MAYOR HARRIS STATED THAT PROBLEMS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION CANNOT BE BLAMED ON INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES; IF THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS IT IS UP TO THE MANAGER TO SEE THAT THEY DO IT PROPERLY. VICE 5~YOR ROTH REFERRED TO THE 1982 AUDIT WHICH REPORTED PROBLEMS AT THE GOLF COURSE AND STATED THAT iN HIS OPINION, RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEMS FALLS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE. COUNCILMAN VALLONE REQUESTED PUBLIC INPUT ON THE GOLF COURSE. BOB FAUST, MEMBER OF THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD, RECOMMENDED THAT RAY LADD BE GIVEN AN EXPENSE ACCOUNT FOR PROMOTIONS THAT MUST BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL NOT APPROVED THE EXPENSES ARE PAID BY MR. LADD. HE DISAGREED WITH THE SAME RATE BEING GIVEN TO RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS. JOHN VAN ANTWERP, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD, STATED THAT RAY LADD SHOULD NOT ALLOW HIS "ENEMIES" TO AFFECT HIS WORK SINCE IN HIS TYPE OF WORK THEY WILL ALWAYS EXIST. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION TO THE GOLF COURSE PROBLEMS.~-~ -- ~---~ ~I MAYOR HARRIS REQUESTED OF M~. VAN ANTWLRP S ROLE OF VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD THAT ~HE[~OARD S~LND THqRSDAY'S GOLF COURSE MEETING WORKING ON ADOPTING RULES AND REGULATIO~S%~g GEORGE METCALF, PRAISED THE WORK OF DELOITTE, HASKINS AND SELLS, THE CITY'S AUDITING FIRM FOR THIS YEAR. HE ALSO SPOKE~N~T~BT SERVICE. BILL MARKHAM, RECOMMENDED THAT r~E C~I~NCIL SEEK THE HELP OF THE NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION FOR SOLUTIONS TO THE GOL? CD£R~ PROBLEMS. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS NOT SEEKING RAY LADD'S JOB BUT HAD SO~E~CE~TIONS ON MANAGEMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE. KATHLEEN HOFFMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE SEBASTIAN WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION, REQUESTED THAT COUNCIL TAKE MR. LADD'S ADVICE AND HIRE A FULL TI~[~ MANAGE ~£T~ THE COMBINED SALARIES DAN MELIA A~D PHT~r A T~AG~T P~R~BE LOOKED I~ p: C NCIL SHOULD ESTABLISH DR. BELLER STA'T~ T~AT'A=D~IS~N ~I~ST~JL~ MA[ ~ ON'THE--GOEF ~ E. JOHN HRUBY STATED THAT IT IS COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS AT THE GOLF COURSE. HE ALSO SAID THAT IN HIS OPINION, A NEW MANAGER IS NEEDED. MAYOR HARRIS RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY'S RECOMMENDATION TO LOOK INTO A MANAGEMENT FIRM TO RUN THE GOLF COURSE. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN VALLONE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY, TO CONCUR WITH RECOMMENDATION OF MAYOR HARRIS AND COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY TO LOOK INTO A MANAGEMENT FIRM TO RUN THE GOLF COURSE. COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY STATED THAT THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD STILL SET UP SOME RULES IN CASE A MANAGEMENT FIRM IS NOT FEASIBLE. HE SAID HE IS BEING SENT A LIST OF MANAGEMENT FIRMS BY MR. BROTHERTON OF THE PGA. VICE MAYOR ROTH OFFERED TO WORK WITH MR. LADD AS LIAISON TO CORRECT PROBLEMS IN INTERIM, BUT EXPECTED NO INTERFERENCE FROM COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: VICE MAYOR ROTH COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY COUNCILMAN RONDEAU COUNCILMAN VALLONE MAYOR HARRIS MOTION CARRIED. THE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN RONDEAU, TO APPOINT VICE MAYOR ROTH AS LIAISON TO THE GOLF COURSE TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF THE MAYOR. MAYOR HARRIS COMPLIMENTED VICE MAYOR ROTH ON THE JOB HE DID AS LIAISON TO THE GOLF COURSE IN THE PAST. VICE MAYOR ROTH AGAIN STATED THAT HE EXPECTED NO INTERFERENCE FROM COUNCILMEMBERS AS JUNE 17, 1986 PAGE 4 INDIVIDUALS. COUNCILMAN VALLONE STATED THAT IT IS BAD POLICY TO HAVE THE ViCE MAYOR ACT AS LIAISON SINCE IT IS THE MAYOR'S RESPONISIBILITY, AND THAT HE AS A COUNCILMAN WILL SAY WHAT HE PLEASES. MAYOR HARRIS STATED HE WOULD REMAIN CHIEF EXECUTOR AND VICE MAYOR ROTH'S NOT TO OVERRIDE THE MAYOR. INTENT WAS ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: VICE MAYOR ROTH COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY COUNCILMAN RONDEAU MAYOR HARRIS NAYS: MAYOR HARRIS COUNCILMAN VALLONE ADJOURNED THE M G AT 7:03 MOTION CARRIED. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AT THE JULY ~986,~MEETING. 4