Reversing a decision made just two weeks ago, the Park and Recreation Commission voted 3-2 against signing a five-year lease with Golf Facilities Management Inc. of North Reading, which currently operates the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club and other local public courses.
Commissioner Chris Burke, who was part of a committee that recommended the private firm and who voted for it last time, was the swing vote. More than an hour into the meeting at 5 Broad St., Burke ended the suspense by announcing he had changed his mind.
"I'm impressed with the number of city councilors who have talked against the proposal ..." he said. "I don't think it would pass the City Council."
Burke said he feared that sending the measure on to certain defeat would only delay efforts to get the course ready for the 2011 season, which opens in a few weeks.
"I think if the City Council votes it down, we'd be in a tough position to open," he said after the meeting.
Concerns about the start of the season at Olde Salem Greens have been heightened by rumors of the pending retirement of Dick Drew, the longtime superintendent. Drew has not filed for retirement, a park official said, but has indicated that he likely will step down this season.
The board decided to meet last night to vote on the controversial proposal a second time after a technical problem was discovered with the agenda for the Feb. 15 meeting. Almost like a mulligan in golf, the board had to do over its previous 3-2 vote in favor of hiring Golf Facilities Management.
However, unlike two weeks ago when only a handful of people attended, more than 20 golfers and six councilors showed up last night. None spoke in favor of the proposal, and several were adamantly opposed.
"You're throwing away 78 years of a (public) golf course on a vote of three people," Salem resident Jay Canty said. "It just seems like you're not doing your job as far as a Park and Recreation Commission. Somehow this is politically influenced," he said, indicating that the board was carrying out the wishes of Mayor Kim Driscoll.
"I just think this city is making a big mistake by letting a private company in here," said Paul Tremblay, co-head of a tournament committee that he said has contributed more than $42,000 to the course over the past seven years.