05-11-1949 Special Meeting 4 71
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SPECIAL MEETING: �$
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
May 11, 1949
A special meeting of the Miami. Shores Village Council was held on
Wednesday, May 11th, at 7:30 P.M. in the Village Hall, with the Golf Club Board
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of Directors. All Councilmen were present with the exception of Mr. Parish and
all Golf Club Directors were present as follows:
William H. Walker, Jr., President
J. N. McArthur, Vice President
Perry E. Willits, Vice President
C. L. McCall, Secretary & Treasurer
Committee Chairmen
Harry J. Karber, Membership
Roger M. Hollis, Entertainment
Ben C. McGahey, Swimming Pool
J. G. Melaven, Grounds and Greens
J. K. Gruner, Jr., Golf
Mrs. G. Robert Khoury, Women's Events
Club Manager, R. B. Branham
Mayor Mackenzie opened the meeting, explaining to those present that it
had been called to go over some of the complaints received regarding the high
fees for the swimming pool, especially the daily rate for Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Frix asked why no one had been informed of the increase in rates. It was
explained by Mr. Walker as having been planned that way from the beginning and
that 'the weekend rates had been omitted on the brochure by mistake. He further
reported that they had taken 112 swimming memberships, 35 golf and swimming member-
ships and 34 converted memberships. The total new membership money to date will
amount to about $12,000, of which about $7,000 has been collected. Because of the
large number of people using the pool, averaging about 1,000 a week, it has been
necessary to hire more help, which will increase the cost of maintenance. To
lower the fees, Mr. Walker continued, will bring in more people than the pool can
accommodate and at the same time cause its operation to become a liability on the
Golf Club.
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Mr. Walker stated they have started a "teen-age" night for which they
will charge 50¢ a person for swimming from 7:30 to 10:00 and that during the
summer months other similar evening programs are to be inaugurated. If there
are any families, he continued, who feel they cannot afford these fees for their
children, they will be given swinning privileges without cost.
Mr. Frix suggested having a bargain day of about 50¢ for a morning
swim. This plan has already been contemplated, Mr. Walker stated, but cannot be
set up until school is out since the children are now in school during the morning
hours.
Mr. McCaffrey asked why there were not as many committee chairmen
functioning as set up in the Golf Course Ordinance, and also why' som:e new corcittees
had been named. Mr. Walker replied that certain previously designated committees
had no function or are being handled in some other way and that the present
committees are more adequately managing the affairs of the Club.
At this point Mr. Walker recommended accepting applications now on file
from non-Villagers who were willing to pay full membership for the use of the
Club and pool. Mr. Reynolds did not think it was right to open the pool to the
general public until some further effort is made toward reducing the fees so that
everyone within the Village will be able to afford the use of the pool. Mr.
McArthur suggested giving the youth of the Village two mornings a week for 50¢.
Mr. Frix was in favor of accepting applications from outsiders to help carry the
pool and golf course with the added recommendation that the pool be open two
mornings a week for 50¢ when school is out. This was generally agreed by the
Council and it was suggested that these reduced rates could be announced to the
Villagers by mail.
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The next subject discussed was in regard to complimentary memberships.
Mr. Branham named the city, officials, newspaper ren and clergy who had received
cards, stating that they had been given out as a matter of courtesy or publicity
and that little use had ever been made of them.
Mr. Reynolds reopened the subject of the Golf Course ordinance. He
stated he would like the Committee to write up their by-laws. Final agreement
was that the Directors should write up suggested changes to this ordinance for
consideration by the Council. Council agreed with Mr. Frix's suggestion that
joint meetings should be held with the Board of Directors which includes Committee
Chairmen, at least every three months to keep them advised of the affairs and
programs of the Club.
Then Mr. Melaven, Chairman of Grounds and Greens, gave the Council a
report of his activities with regard to certain contemplated changes which
suggestions the Council thought were very good.
Mr. Hollis suggested doing something to dress up the dining room to
create a more attractive atmosphere.
Mr. McGahey reported on the various contemplated evening programs at
the pool which included Monday night for swimming lessons, Thursday night for
teen-alters, Friday night for adults and Sunday night would be family night with
plans for serving a buffet supper at the pool.
Mr. Walker explained that the-First Federal would like to give to the
Club their old air conditioning unit, if we will have it moved. It was his
suggestion that this equipment be moved out to the Club and stored there until
such time as there is sufficient money to have it installed. The cost of moving
it will run about $800 and Mr. Willits reported the best proposal he had received
so far for roving and installing it, with the addition of a new unit for the bar,
amounts to about $11,000.
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Motion was originated by Mr. Reynolds that we accept the gift of the
air conditioning unit from the First Federal and that the Committee be authorized
to spend the necessary money to have it moved out to the Club. Motion was
seconded by Mr. Frix and passed unanimously.
The Village Manager was called upon for an opinion of the Golf Club
finances with regard to the current budget which, he stated, assuming all
present obligations and the remaining expense on the swi.rming pool contract,
would only allow a narrow margin for operating expenses through the summer
months. Council instructed the Village Manager to secure a financial statement
of the Golf Club operations for review at the next meeting.
It was agreed by the Council that Mr. Willits be allowed to close
the pool for about ten days from May 16, to water-proof the cracks and complete
all work.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 P.M.
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Vi Manager and Clerk
,APPROVED:
Mayor