2004-04-14Commission Members
John D. Kenney, Chairman
Michael P. Pierce, Vice Chairman
Marianne M. Dearie
Eileen R. Duff
Gary Lambert
Martin J. Lawler, III
Elliott C. Margolis
Ida Beaver, Recording Secretary
BEVERLY GOLF & TENNIS COMMISSION
134 McKay Street
BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETFS 01915
Minutes of Monthly Meeting
April 14, 2004
Present: John Kenney, Chairman; Michael Pierce, Vice Chairman; Martin Lawler; and
Elliott Margolis.
Absent: Eileen Duff, Marianne Doane, and Gary Lambert
Guests: Peter Fontaine (Business Manager for Johnson Golf Managernent); Joe Devito
(President of the Men's Association); Steve Follensbee (Attorney for Johnson Golf
Management); and Bill Coughlin (City Councilor).
Call to Order:
Mr. Kenney called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm and welcomed the guests. Elliott
Margolis made a motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting and stated that the
minutes needed to be amended to include the acceptance of Marty Lawler and Mike
Pierce on their new 3-year appointments to the Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission. He
also noted that there was discussion regarding Marianne Doane as to whether it was legal
or not for the Mayor to change the ruling of the previous Mayor eliminating her position
and putting her back on the Commission. A motion was made by Marty Lawler to accept
the amended minutes of the previous meeting of March 10, 2004. Mike Pierce noted that
the previous minutes should also be amended to include the fact that the Commission
authorized $2,500 expenditure for the 19th Hole. The motion to accept the amended
minutes was unanimously approved.
Management Contract:
Mr. Kermey announced that he received a letter from the Mayor's office stating that
the four organizations that will be the recipients of the Mayor's Charity Outings for 2004
are: The American Red Cross, The Greater Beverly YMCA, Beverly Bootstraps Food
Pantry and the Beverly High School PTSO. These organizations will contact Don Lyons
to set a date for their outings.
Marty Lawler asked for a clarification from Johnson as to when the City's responsibility
for paying for repairs on the old equipment stops. He felt that according to the settlement
agreement of 2001 the City's responsibility would end on July 1, 2004. He hasn't
received any invoices yet, but he would like to know the exact date. Mr. Follensbee will
look into this and get back the Commission.
Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission
Minutes of April 2004 Meeting
Page 2 of 3
Facilities:
The Monthly Income and Expense Reports for March were handed out. Mr. Lawler
noted that the total expenditures paid for March were $9,161. Most of this ($9,000) went
to reimburse Johnson Golf for the repairs done upstairs and for renovations to the 19th
Hole that were previously authorized. Also there are unpaid authorized bills which
amount to approximately $3,000, which leaves a balance after those get paid of $20,000
for three months through June. He suggested that if there was any money left over it
should be spent instead of going into the reserve fund. He also reported that he received
a bill from All Welding for filling and leasing the acetylene tanks. Mr. Lawler said that
there was a 5-year lease for all three tanks at $200 per tank. It was agreed that Johnson
Golf would be responsible for half of the cost. A motion to accept the Monthly Income
and Expense reports was made by Elliott Margolis. Mike Pierce seconded the motion,
and it was unanimonsly approved.
Mr. Kenney said that he and Marty Lawler met with John Dunn, the City Finance
Director who asked them to give him a budget request. Mr. Kenney handed out a five-
year Proposed Budget Request. He said that the intent was to stop spending money on
repairs to things that break down, but to invest it instead in renovations. A motion to
approve the budget to thc Finance Director was made by Marty Lawler. Elliott Margolis
seconded this motion, and it was passed unanimously.
A discussion of what to do with thc pool followed. Marty Lawler made a motion to
do whatever is necessary to get the pool filled in, find out whatever peLmits may be
needed, and enlist the Public Works to break it up and throw it in the hole. Elliott
Margolis seconded the motion. Mike Pierce didn't feel that it was necessary to make a
motion at this time until the Commission knew exactly what it was going to do. Mr.
Kenney said that he would call the Board of Health of find out what requirements there
may be or if there any issues on using the pool deck to be used to fill in the pool. He said
that he would also call John Dunn for his assistance in getting Public Works to spend a
day doing that. Mr. Lawlor then asked to withdraw his motion. He also said that if Mr.
Kenney could get the go ahead, and if he could find out this information within the next
week that he would make a motion to authorize Mr. Kenney, barring any unforeseen
difficulty, to go ahead with the process of closing the pool The motion was seconded by
Elliott Margolis and passed with all in favor.
Next, Mr. Kenney said that Halpin Line Construction gave an estimate of $22,185
for poles, frames and guide wires for the netting along the 15 hole. The netting would
be approximately $5,000. It was thought that the netting may not solve all the problems,
because the tee is up so high that a wedge or a nine iron shot could easily go over the
net. When asked how much it would cost to build a new tee for the 15th hole, Mr.
Kenney was told it would be about $12,000 - $15,000. It was decided to look at
alternatives to netting. In any event, because of the amount, three bids would be needed.
Mr. Kenney read a letter from Johnson Golf Management stating their agreement
with the Commission's decision to close the pool.
Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission
Minutes of April 2004 Meeting
Page 3 of 3
Old Business:
Mr. Kenney was asked by the Commission to ask the City Solicitor for an opinion
as to whether the Mayor has the right to rescind the former Mayor's removal of
Marianne Doane from the Golf Commission, and whether she is still an active voting
member of the Commission.
New Business:
Mr. Kenney read a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Paglia abutters of the golf course
along with a petition signed by several other neighbors requesting that the sidewalk and
land facing their properties be cleaned up and properly maintained by the City. Mr.
Kenney said that he would send a letter to the Paglias informing them that based on their
request Johnson Golf would clean up the area abutting the golf course. It was suggested
that the Department of Youth Services could be enlisted to clean once or twice a year
along the side of Goodyear and McKay Street.
Mike Pierce felt that the Commission should respond to Mr. Johnson's response to
the 2004 Overview. He felt that Mr. Johnson made some statements that were not true,
and he took a personal view of a member of the Commission. Mr. Lawler did not think
that a response was necessary. Mr. Margolis would like to let it die. Mr. Kenney thought
there might be some legal liability to the City if there was no response. He asked Mr.
Pierce to check with the City Solicitor to see if some response is required and report
back to the Commission what he advises.
Adjournment:
Marty Lawler made a motion to adjottrn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Mike Pierce
seconded the motion with all in favor. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for
Thursday, May 13, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. at the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ida Beaver
Recording Secretary