NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority Board Meeting June 19, 2012

Transcription

1 NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority Board Meeting June 19, 2012 Present: Excused: Also Present: Pat Barrett, Chairman Serge Lussi Harold Hagemann OPRHP Cliff Donaldson Bob Flacke Jerry Strack Ed Weibrecht Chris Walsh, DEC Ted Blazer, ORDA President/CEO Jeff Byrne, ORDA Sr. Vice President Alan Walther, Bonadio Group Introduction: Agenda: The presiding Chairman thanked everyone for coming and called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. The Chairman then asked for a roll call to confirm a quorum was present. The Chairman stated that an agenda is included in the board packet and asked if anyone would like to add any additional items to the agenda. The agenda was approved as presented. The Chairman recognized and thanked Randy Preston, Supervisor for the Town of Wilmington and Ron Vanselow, Supervisor for the Town of Johnsburg for attending. Minutes: Chairman: On a motion by Cliff Donaldson, seconded by Jerry Strack, the minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting held on December 22, 2011, were approved. The Chairman asked Ted to give the President s Report President s Report: Ted Blazer, President/CEO welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending and introduced Padraig Paddy Power, ORDA s new Director of Finance. Ted reminded the Board that By-Laws will have to be updated at our next meeting to include Belleayre. He then reviewed the following: Winter in review o Winter was a tough one

2 o Down 80k (16.8%) in visits and 2.6m in revenue (14.9%) o Combatted with reduced spending o Administered multiple world, national and regional events including the World Championships in Bobsled and Skeleton o Received 9 International and National top ratings o Season pass sales are at a par with last year Summer activities o Highly successful bike event in Wilmington over 400 competitors. ORDA worked closely with the Town of Wilmington in planning the event. o Gore has added multiple new attractions to attract train passengers Events o Lake Placid Freeskate and Dance competitions, Freaky Friday skating, Saturday Night Ice Shows, Soaring Saturday, and Wet and Wild Wednesday. o World Cup Bobsled in November, Freestyle World Cup and Luge World Cup o Jr. Grand Prix Figure Skating and Eastern Synchronized Skating o Division I hockey in December - Division III championships in March. o Empire State Games o Working on a prestigious 3 day meeting during the FIBT World Cup event in November Retirees o Kathy Bushy o Mike Bartlett o Bruce McCulley o Bridget Hinman Old Business: Financial Report- Alan Walther of the Bonadio Group gave highlights of the Audit results. Regarding Internal Controls there was one finding which was addressed as corrected and a couple of issues from last year s Audit were addressed. Overall ORDA performed extremely well. Audit Committee Report: Cliff Donaldson presented the report as Chair of the Audit Committee. Cliff stated that ORDA received the highest rating and assisted in every way possible. The Audit Committee found no irregularities in the Investment Policy and added that all information will be available on the ORDA website. Bob Flacke extended congratulations and thanks to Kathy McNamara Bushy on her retirement. On a motion by Cliff Donaldson, seconded by Harold Hagemann, the 2011/2012 Audit was approved.

3 On a motion by Cliff Donaldson, seconded by Jerry Strack the Investment Report was accepted. On a motion by Cliff Donaldson, seconded by Ed Weibrecht the Annual Report was accepted. New Business: The Chairman asked Ted Blazer to update the Board on the Conference Center Marketing and Construction and other new business including Belleayre. Conference Center Update: Denny Allen/Jim McKenna Denny Allen- In the first year the Conference Center had 74 event days, sold $523k in food (47k to ORDA) and 69k to ORDA in room rentals. Denny introduced Jackie Kelly as his new right hand person and thanked her for her work. Jim McKenna- 336 potential organizations coming to area. 6 groups have signed for next year with 2 more close to signing plus several positive responses. Cliff Donaldson praised Denny Allen and his staff and their responsiveness on short notice. Ted Blazer then gave an update that covered the following areas: Negotiations with DEC continuing for an MOU Mike Pratt, Tony Carlino and others has been visiting Belleayre and will continue to do so Plan is to take a good amount of time to see how Belleayre operates, work with the staff and community to move the facility forward. ORDA will be surveying visitors and others to see what is working/not working before major marketing and facility infrastructure decisions are made. Deferred Capital Plans 4m (1) from State and Centerplate A resolution is included with those items expected to be over $150,000 which include snow grooming, equipment for Gore, Whiteface, Belleayre and the Olympic Sports Complex. Snowmaking upgrades at Whiteface and Belleayre. Lift improvements at Whiteface and other health and safety items as necessary after inspection of venues. Other projects include improvements to the cross country trails at the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt Vanhoevenberg (new excavator to work on trails, new Pisten Bully 100 for grooming, - trails are homologated for 1.4, 1.4, 3.75, 5 and 7.5 km for classic and free techniques and will allow ORDA to run events such as Cross Country National Championships, Super Tour (world cup B), collegiate and Junior Olympic events. Tentative three way financial partnership with USOC and a sponsor to establish an enhanced roller loop at the Olympic Jumping Complex. Memorial highway- roadway and castle repairs Locker rooms rehabilitation and roof repair at the Olympic Center

4 Pool and facility repairs at the OJC and OSC Infrastructure and base lodge improvements and painting at Gore Jeff Byrne described the Centerplate improvements underway Several projects are underway at the venues geared to improve existing conditions and provide additional ways to increase revenues and customer satisfaction. All are expected to be complete prior to the beginning of the season. At Whiteface the goal is to be finished prior to the Oktoberfest. ORDA staff will be working on the projects. Chairman: Asked for a motion to go into Executive session to discuss personnel matters On a motion by Ed Weibrecht, seconded by Harold Hagemann the Board went into Executive Session. On a motion by Jerry Strack, seconded by Ed Weibrecht the Board went into Regular Session. Chairman: In Executive Session the Board discussed the ORDA/CSEA contract. The Chairman then asked Ted Blazer to summarize the Board s decision. Ted Blazer: Subsequent to the Union vote approving the Memorandum of Agreement with ORDA regarding a new contract; it became apparent in March that the transfer of Belleayre to ORDA would become a reality. We are very concerned over the disparity between Belleayre staff wages and those of ORDA staff- especially if they are to work under the same umbrella. For that reason, ORDA personnel will continue to work with the Governor s office to address the wage disparity issue and to model a future agreement in accordance with other collective bargaining agreements in the State since New Business: Resolutions: Resolution #262 Resolution #263 On a motion by Jerry Strack, seconded by Ed Weibrecht the board adopted resolution #262 Approving a Line of Credit with a Banking Institution. On a motion by Ed Weibrecht, seconded by Bob Flacke the Board adopted Resolution #263 Adopting Certain Policies And Procedures.

5 Resolution #265 Resolution #266 On a motion by Serge Lussi, seconded by Ed Weibrecht, the Board adopted Resolution #265 Approving Capital Expenditures On a motion by Cliff Donaldson, seconded by Jerry Strack, the Board adopted Resolution #266 Approving Policy Makers for The Chairman asked if there were any further comments or business and there being none asked for a motion to adjourn. Adjournment: On a motion by Serge Lussi, seconded by Ed Weibrecht, the meeting of the Olympic Regional Development Authority Board of Directors was adjourned at 2:31 P.M. Respectfully submitted by Mary M. Stanton, Secretary to the Board