GM reports on North Gate, drainage, Sunday football specials and more

 
(Oct. 18, 2022) General Manager John Viola discussed the North Gate Bridge, drainage, lifeguard shortages, and recent success at the Clubhouse Grille during his monthly report to the Board of Directors on Saturday. 
 
Viola said he's received positive feedback on improvements to the North Gate Bridge, which included new lighting. He said other plans include a fountain in the north pond, and a raised flower box in place of the old guard shack. He said the Association would work with the Garden Club to plant seasonal flowers in the box, along with a holiday tree this December. 
 
Viola said he's also worked with former Board member Frank Brown on plans to streamline the bridge with a new railing or enclosure. 
 
"I think it'll give it a nice finishing touch," Viola said. The total cost for the planters, fountain and enclosure was estimated at roughly $22,000. 
 
Viola asked homeowners to send additional ideas and feedback to [email protected].
 
On other infrastructure, Viola said roughly three miles of roads have been paved on Barnacle Court, Beach Court, Birdnest Drive, Fosse Grange, Garrett Drive, Ivanhoe Court, Liberty Bell Court, Little John Court, Moonshell Drive, Rabbit Run Lane, Surfers Way, Watergreen Lane, and Willow Way. 
 
Striping with reflective paint was finished on Sept. 26. Next, the Association will work with a contractor to repaint crosswalks and directional arrows along Ocean Parkway. 
 
"That will be the same reflective paint, and that probably will happen over the next several weeks," Viola said. 
 
On drainage, Viola said about 20 major pipes had been replaced using the new "cured in place" procedure said to be more cost effective, longer lasting, and less invasive. 
 
That includes a problem area near the Yacht Club and Mumford's Landing, with more phases of work still to come.
 
"The second part on the drainage is there are certain pipes that lead out to main roads that go into the canals or the bay. We've been replacing them [because] they're 30, 40, 50 years old," Viola said. 
 
He said pipe replacement at Waters Edge Court finished on Sept. 30. Work on Clubhouse Drive is scheduled to start on Oct. 17, with a pipe replacement on Birdnest Drive likely to start later this fall.
 
On food and beverage operations, Viola said Sunday football specials have helped boost business at the Clubhouse Grille.
 
"Each week, more and more patrons have come to watch football," Viola said. "We could not be any happier. It's just showing that the investment we made in this building" is paying off.
 
He said with the addition of two more jumbo TVs, "we're able to cover just about every out-of-market ticket football game."
 
"The beer prices are great, and the place is packed," Viola said, adding there is also outdoor seating with additional TVs. "There's been weekends where we had over 50 people just sitting on that patio. So, come out and join us!"
 
Viola said staff is addressing concerns that some pools were not open every day last summer.
 
"The Yacht Club as well as the Beach Club was open 100% of the time. The other ones, maybe 60%," Viola said. "We did have a lifeguard shortage [and] we are working on it."
 
He said plans for the next season include paying for lifeguard certifications and creating a summer differential to pay guards more during the peak season. The Aquatics Department is also working with Human Resources to find guards through job fairs and other avenues. 
 
"I will be presenting that to Budget and Finance as well as talking to the Aquatics Committee," Viola said. "We did have ... record-breaking attendance, so we definitely filled some of the needs this summer."
 
Viola said new pickleball courts have opened, and renovation of existing courts finished in September and in time for several tournaments scheduled this month. The cost was about $75,000. 
 
"That went well [and] I got a lot of good feedback on that," he said. "We've done a lot down at Racquet Sports, and it's showing."
 
The Board approved requests for two capital projects related to the Marina: $350,720.38 for a new Marina fuel "C Dock" and $16,581.93 for power pedestals for the dock. 
 
Viola said the Marina was able to meet the gas demands of customers this year, but new systems were needed. 
 
Board members also approved a $53,568 expense for a new mower for the Golf Club, and $38,495.74 for a new utility vehicle.
 
Viola said the Golf course continues to be busy, especially on weekends because of outside package play. Upcoming events include the Men’s Golf Ryder Cup Tournament (Oct. 21-22), OPMGA End of Year Fall Banquet and Dance (Nov. 3), and Santa’s Open Golf Tournament hosted by Big Brothers and Sisters of the Eastern Shore (Dec. 10). 
 
"The numbers speak for themselves," he said. "[We're] operating on all cylinders."
 
Senior Executive Office Manager Linda Martin said the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget process was underway, as department heads received budget sheets last week. 
 
Key items in the next budget will include pricing and income, open positions for Aquatics and Public Works, mandatory minimum wage increases, and efficiencies on expenditures. 
 
Martin said staff would deliver budget binders to the Budget and Finance Committee by Dec. 23, with the first public budget talks scheduled Jan. 4-6.
 
On recent financials, Viola said preliminary numbers for September show an $82,000 favorability to budget, led by strong showings from Golf, the Marina, and the Clubhouse Grille and Beach Club. 
 
Year to date, the Association is positive to budget by $776,000. 
 
To view slides from the GM report, visit /documents/20124/122622/10-15-22%20Meeting%20Power%20Point.pptx/02278323-f320-14a6-7b2b-b9675715a932.