TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD
740 MAIN STREET
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
JUNE 26, 2013
SPECIAL MEETING – EAST HARTFORD GOLF COURSE
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Barbara-Ann Rossi, Minority Leader Eric A. Thompson, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Linda A. Russo, Ram Aberasturia, Patricia Harmon and Esther B. Clarke
ALSO Michael Walsh, Finance Director
PRESENT
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m. He announced the exit locations from the Chamber in accordance with Connecticut
General Statutes §29-381, after which the Council joined him in the pledge of allegiance.
Chair Kehoe took a moment to congratulate the parents and students of the Class of 2013 of East Hartford High School that graduated on
June 25th. He specifically was impressed by the demeanor of the students and the singing talent that accompanied the ceremony.
Chair Kehoe stated that this was the second of two meetings dealing with the management of the East Hartford Golf Course and the responses received after a Request for Proposal. While the two bids received varied significantly from each other, both bidders assumed that the town would be responsible for providing up to $1M in additional investment in the golf course and projected operating losses for the first three to four years. Chair Kehoe explained that the Council would not make a decision this evening, but rather look to expand the town’s options by requesting both bidders submit an additional bid that would be for a longer period of time (10-20 years) in return for not requiring any additional funds from the town or to actually sell the golf course to a golf course operator
or private entity.
Michael Walsh presented the Council with a 9-year (June 30, 1999 through June 30, 2007) analysis of the golf course operations when the course was run by the town. For the nine years ended June 30, 2007, the total losses for the golf course were $1,611,262.
The Chair opened the meeting to the public for comment:
Susan Kniep, 44-46 and 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) agreed with the Chair that the town should consider all of its options for the East Hartford Golf Course, including an extended lease that would contain less liability for the town, more revenue sharing, etc., before making a final decision; (2) stated that the East Hartford Golf Course is an asset to the town that should be retained; (3) said that it is a matter of record that the town did not meet its responsibilities for the repair of the drainage at the golf course and suggested that, if MDM was aware of that, the current contract MDM has with the town would be null and void; (4) believes that both bidders should be aware that there is a problem with the drainage at the golf course; (5) stated that the town’s yearly payment of $200,000 to the Connecticut Development
Authority to repay a loan for a 2006 Brownfield’s cleanup on the site of the current Goodwin College should be applied to the golf course to help offset the deficits incurred.
The Council allowed the following individual, who is not a town resident, to speak.
Scott Martin, 314 Ridgewood Road, West Hartford, a Connecticut section PGA Golf Professional – who retained his card this year – and is the Head Golf Professional at Long Hill Country Club, spoke on behalf of MDM Golf LLC, the current manager of the golf course, stating that MDM has done a good job managing the golf course considering the condition that the course was in when MDM first entered into a lease with the town. Mr. Martin asked that the Council to consider the existing contract along with the two bid responses, when considering all the town’s options for the golf course.
Janet Facer, 36 Chapman Street, president of the East Hartford Women’s 9-hole Golf League, stated that the majority of members in the league are East Hartford residents, and believes that the golf course should not be sold. Additionally, Ms. Facer stated that she feels her tax dollars are best utilized by retaining the course, noting that her taxes also go to services and programs she doesn’t use.
Frank Kucza, 87 Greenlawn Street, (1) spoke to the problem with the drainage at the golf course; (2) inquired on the disposition of the equipment that was at the golf course at the onset of the lease with MDM; and (3) suggested that the Council consider all options for the disposition of this property, including a $4M bond referendum to upgrade the course.
Chair Kehoe said he is hopeful that the additional information asked of the bidders would be available for the public at the July 16th Town Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:45 p.m.)
Motion carried 9/0.
Attest____________________________
Angela M. Attenello
Town Council Clerk
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