Orangetown Vote on Broadacres Private Management Pushed to January

The Orangetown Council deferred a vote on an agreement with AppliedGolf to take over management of Broadacres Golf Course for 2014 and 2015 with an option for 2016 at its meeting Tuesday.

AppliedGolf President Dave Wasenda made a presentation to the council Dec. 10, explaining his company's plans and answering questions from the council. When the matter was put o the agenda for a vote Dec. 17, it would have been the approval of a framework for the agreement, with the more detailed version still to be approved.

"The framework sets the rates and expectations," Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart said. "With that in place, we can develop the detailed operational contract. Until the board supports (the agreement), there is no point in investing the time in the detailed work product."

Stewart said an approval of at least the framework must be in place by Jan. 24, 2014 or AppliedGolf will walk away from the deal. The goal is to cut into the annual financial losses at Broadacres. Stewart said the current projection for a reduction in losses with AppliedGolf managing the course is approximately $435,000, though that number has changed over the last couple of weeks.

"If members of the town board drag their feet any longer, we will miss the opportunity to save an estimated $437,000 over the next three years." Stewart said.

The Orangetown Council's next scheduled session is the reorganizational meeting is Jan. 7, 2014, which traditionally carries a very light agenda. There is a regular town board meeting Jan. 14 and Stewart indicated there could be further discussion then, with a vote Jan. 20 or 21. That brings the added complication of the unsettled Orangetown Supervisor election. The count heading into Friday had Stewart winning over Republican challenger Walter Wettje by two votes, but the sides are awaiting an appellate court ruling, so as of Tuesday's meeting, no one knew who would be Supervisor in January.

Stewart and Councilman Paul Valentine were ready to vote on the agreement Tuesday, but Councilmen Denis Troy and Tom Diviny called for it to be pushed to the next meeting because they both had questions about the details. Councilman Tom Morr was held up in the city due to Tuesday's snowfall and did not make it to the meeting, but Diviny said if Morr had been there, the matter would have been tabled even more easily.

Diviny said the council members were initially given a figure over over $700,000 in reduced losses Dec. 6, then it dropped to $200,000 before arriving at the current projection. He said that he, Troy and Morr had made it clear to Stewart before the meeting that they were not ready to vote to approve the agreement Tuesday night. 

"One question is how are the numbers for the cost being (projected)," Diviny said. "The numbers don't add up. Every time we ask questions, the numbers change. There was no reason to vote that night because the numbers we were given had changed significantly. I asked for backup.

"All of a sudden we are obstructionist because we want to do what we are elected to do, which is look at things? I want to see the golf course lose less money, but we have to make sure this bidder is right for the town."

Diviny said that he would be meeting with Wasenda Friday to go over the numbers and to work out parts of the contract that have not been discussed.

During the workshop meeting Dec. 10, Diviny had asked what AppliedGolf's plan was regarding Joe Wrafter, who currently manages Broadacres. Wasenda said they would like to retain Wrafter, but they had not spoken to him because they felt it was inappropriate to do so until they had the contract. 

"No one said they would vote no to it," Diviny said of the agreement with AppliedGolf. "The numbers have to be verified. We did say we need to see and verify the numbers and a lot more details need to be agreed upon."

Stewart expressed confidence that AppliedGolf can raise revenues at Broadacres, which is where most of the reduction in the deficit is projected. He said the projections are based on the history of the course and AppliedGolf's history with other golf courses. Among the changes mentioned would be adding tees to allow golfers to play 18 holes on the nine-hole course, improved marketing, incentive programs and membership services. 

"Revenues are the variable, but the place has never had a serious or professional marketing program like these guys are ready to bring," Stewart said. "Those strategies are not the kind of thing the town has the tools or the talent to do. They have increased revenues dramatically on other projects. (If they get the contract), they will spend the winter promoting Broadacres."