(Feb. 16, 2017) Assertions that Ocean Pines is considering running the community center gym as a profit center are completely unrealistic, according to Board President Tom Herrick.
Pickleball players that use the gym, however, are not convinced that is true, and drop-in rates were set last week for that group, which previously did not have to pay to play indoors.
Annual membership fees had covered indoor play in the gym.
Herrick began a Feb. 10 budget meeting with a statement related to the community center controversy.
“There were some public comments made recently and there is also an article in the local newspaper giving the false impression that this board may want to run the community center like a profit center,” Herrick said. “It’s completely unrealistic to believe that to be true. It could never happen and nor should it happen – it’s a service to the community.”
What the board was doing, he said, was attempting to make up for large operational losses. Herrick said in 2011 the parks and recreation department, which oversees gym usage, ended with a net operating loss of $356,000.
“It’s increased every year since then to a staggering $554,000 in 2016,” Herrick said, adding that Program Supervisor Debbie Donahue and Aquatics Director Colby Phillips were trying to reverse that trend by taking “the proper steps to control the exorbitant loses and to exhibit fiscal responsibility to the entire association by doing so.”
“Bayside Gazette, please don’t give us too much credit. We’re not that good,” Herrick continued, referencing a prior article. “We’re trying to do the best we can, but that’s pretty unrealistic to believe that it could ever be run like profit center. I don’t even think Donald Trump could accomplish that goal.”
Homeowner Neil Gottesman, a spokesman for pickleball, countered the directors had, in fact, discussed running the gym as a profit center during a meeting on Feb. 2.
“We can pull up the meeting notes, etc. and look at the video, but that was the impression,” he said.
Gottesman said pickleball members sent several letters to the board, but had yet to receive the courtesy of a response.
“That would be a nice courtesy to have,” he said. “I shall assume one of two things: you didn’t receive the letters or … you didn’t read the letters.”
He produced numbers from Ocean Pines’ audited report related to tennis, platform tennis and pickleball – the three groups included under the racquet sports amenity. According to those numbers, pickleball is the only sport that regularly turns a profit.
“Pickleball income generated over the past three years [was] $55,478 and expenditures were $34,327, leaving a surplus over those three years of $21,151,” Gottesman said. “The other two racquet sports did not show a similar pattern.”
Gottesman said he would like to start a dialogue with the board.
“We have been asking and been asking and been writing letters,” he said. “To me, it seems pretty much one-sided.”
That notion was short lived. Following the comments by Gottesman, the directors unanimously agreed to set new fees across racquet sports, most of which were lower than current rates.
Family tennis memberships dropped from $525 to $425. Individual memberships decreased from $315 to $260.
Platform tennis rates remained the same, $250 for a family membership or $150 for an individual.
Pickleball memberships, previously $250 for families or $150 for individuals, dropped to $175 and $100, respectively.
However, pickleball members will now pay a $3 drop-in fee to use the gym. The nonmember fee is $5.
A family membership covering all three racquet-sports was set at $625.
Interim General Manager Brett Hill said the drop-in fees were “right in line” with those at other facilities in the county.
“I think the number is very reasonable and it helps cover our cost to facilitate [play],” he said.
Pickleball players that use the gym, however, are not convinced that is true, and drop-in rates were set last week for that group, which previously did not have to pay to play indoors.
Annual membership fees had covered indoor play in the gym.
Herrick began a Feb. 10 budget meeting with a statement related to the community center controversy.
“There were some public comments made recently and there is also an article in the local newspaper giving the false impression that this board may want to run the community center like a profit center,” Herrick said. “It’s completely unrealistic to believe that to be true. It could never happen and nor should it happen – it’s a service to the community.”
What the board was doing, he said, was attempting to make up for large operational losses. Herrick said in 2011 the parks and recreation department, which oversees gym usage, ended with a net operating loss of $356,000.
“It’s increased every year since then to a staggering $554,000 in 2016,” Herrick said, adding that Program Supervisor Debbie Donahue and Aquatics Director Colby Phillips were trying to reverse that trend by taking “the proper steps to control the exorbitant loses and to exhibit fiscal responsibility to the entire association by doing so.”
“Bayside Gazette, please don’t give us too much credit. We’re not that good,” Herrick continued, referencing a prior article. “We’re trying to do the best we can, but that’s pretty unrealistic to believe that it could ever be run like profit center. I don’t even think Donald Trump could accomplish that goal.”
Homeowner Neil Gottesman, a spokesman for pickleball, countered the directors had, in fact, discussed running the gym as a profit center during a meeting on Feb. 2.
“We can pull up the meeting notes, etc. and look at the video, but that was the impression,” he said.
Gottesman said pickleball members sent several letters to the board, but had yet to receive the courtesy of a response.
“That would be a nice courtesy to have,” he said. “I shall assume one of two things: you didn’t receive the letters or … you didn’t read the letters.”
He produced numbers from Ocean Pines’ audited report related to tennis, platform tennis and pickleball – the three groups included under the racquet sports amenity. According to those numbers, pickleball is the only sport that regularly turns a profit.
“Pickleball income generated over the past three years [was] $55,478 and expenditures were $34,327, leaving a surplus over those three years of $21,151,” Gottesman said. “The other two racquet sports did not show a similar pattern.”
Gottesman said he would like to start a dialogue with the board.
“We have been asking and been asking and been writing letters,” he said. “To me, it seems pretty much one-sided.”
That notion was short lived. Following the comments by Gottesman, the directors unanimously agreed to set new fees across racquet sports, most of which were lower than current rates.
Family tennis memberships dropped from $525 to $425. Individual memberships decreased from $315 to $260.
Platform tennis rates remained the same, $250 for a family membership or $150 for an individual.
Pickleball memberships, previously $250 for families or $150 for individuals, dropped to $175 and $100, respectively.
However, pickleball members will now pay a $3 drop-in fee to use the gym. The nonmember fee is $5.
A family membership covering all three racquet-sports was set at $625.
Interim General Manager Brett Hill said the drop-in fees were “right in line” with those at other facilities in the county.
“I think the number is very reasonable and it helps cover our cost to facilitate [play],” he said.