Council approves golf course clubhouse operator
Feb. 20—WATERTOWN — City Council members are relieved that they have found someone to run the Thompson Park Golf Course clubhouse this season.
They just wished that the lone proposal from local resident David J. Marconi was larger than $6.
Council members, however, unanimously agreed to move forward with the proposal on Tuesday night.
"I wish him well," said Councilman Robert O. Kimball, adding that he looks forward to having a burger and a beer after playing a round at the city-owned, 18-hole golf course at the park.
Kimball surmised that Marconi submitted such a low bid possibly because of the negative publicity from Spokes on the Green failing to run the clubhouse for a second season and the owner moving out of town.
In the first year of the city owning the golf course, Spokes paid just $1 to operate the clubhouse. Marconi might have been reluctant to offer more than the $6, Kimball said.
The city will now put together the specifics of the lease agreement with Marconi.
After the vote, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Scott M. Weller said Marconi "has been working" on his end to prepare for the opening of the clubhouse while council members were considering his proposal.
The golf course is slated to open on April 15.
Before the vote, Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero suggested that next year the city include a minimum bid if Marconi is successful this season.
Councilman Cliff G. Olney wondered why the city didn't receive more proposals than the just the one. The city contacted 24 potential vendors to run the golf course's concessions.
City Purchasing Director Tina Bartlett-Bearup said that her department put a lot of effort into trying to attract proposals, much more than it does for typical bids.
They even made "cold calls" to get more people interested. Three or four potential vendors looked at the Request for Proposal just a few days before Marconi's proposal was opened on Jan. 25, she said.
Under Marconi, the clubhouse would be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and have a staff of about 10 to 12 people. The menu would consist of subs, burgers, salads, appetizers and a couple of entrees.
Marconi, who did not attend Tuesday's council meeting, has stressed that he's a golfer, playing the sport for about 20 years and was a member of the golf course last season.
Mayor Sarah V. Compo Pierce thinks that he might be more successful than the previous operator because he knows golfers and what they want.
Depending on what happens this season, the city could also look at whether the parks department could run the clubhouse in the future, City Manager Eric Wagenaar said.
