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Rilling’s appointments sail through for confirmation by Norwalk Council

May 27, 2015
–
Nancy Guenther Chapman
Oak Hills Park Authority Chairman Clyde Mount.
Oak Hills Park Authority Chairman Clyde Mount.

NORWALK, Conn. — Clyde Mount’s service on the Oak Hills Park Authority was roundly endorsed Tuesday by Norwalk Common Council members on their way to unanimously affirming his reappointment.

Jud Aley also was lauded as he was appointed to the Norwalk Parking Authority, a new post for the Bike/Walk Task Force member. Harbor Management Commission member Jan Schaefer also was reappointed as a harbor keeper.

Mount got the most comments.

Council President Jerry Petrini (R-District D) said that there’s been “a lot, a lot of work” done on the Authority in a time of transition, but the comments left online are primarily negative, with “a lot of criticism.”

“I have to say Clyde is probably the most level headed,” Petrini said. “He sits there, and you have to remember, these people do not get paid, they’re volunteers. Some people would just say, ‘You know what? I’ve had enough of this.’ Because their job is try to make what’s best for Oak Hills and the city of Norwalk and that’s all they are trying to do.”

“So happy you decided to come out again because you are really what we need there to get us through and get us on the right path,” Petrini said.

Mount “knows how to dig in,” said Majority Leader Doug Hempstead (R-At Large), who, like Councilman Rich Bonenfant (R-At Large), mentioned Mount is a former Council member.

“Serving on the Council, he brought a great business sense to his decision making, and common sense,” Hempstead said, indicating that continues at Oak Hills.

It was a pleasure to serve on the Council with Mount, Bonenfant said. “He’s done a heck of a job there and the course looks great,” he said.

“I am very impressed with how hard working he is,” Councilman John Igneri (D-District E) said, adding that Mount has good ideas.

Judd Aley sits in on last month's Norwalk Parking Authority meeting.
Judd Aley sits in on last month’s Norwalk Parking Authority meeting.

As for Aley, Councilman Bruce Kimmel (D-At Large) said he’d gotten to know him on the Bike/Walk Task Force. “I’m sure he’ll do a great job,” Kimmel said.

Petrini said Aley had approached him as a business owner.

“He had some great ideas… I’m more than impressed with his thoughts,” Petrini said.

Schaefer is “very much engaged,” has a great communications background and loves being on the water, Hempstead said.

Aley and Mount attended the meeting.

“Thank you for all your hard work,” Mayor Harry Rilling said. “It’s very difficult, I know.”

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Comments

13 responses to “Rilling’s appointments sail through for confirmation by Norwalk Council”

  1. TReynolds

    Good work, Clyde. I hope the best is yet to come.

  2. Jim Perkins

    “a lot, a lot of work” done on the Authority in a time of transition, but the comments left online are primarily negative, with “a lot of criticism.”

    So voicing an opinion at the ridiculous moves the Oak Hills Authority make online are all incorrect and the common council truly believes the OHPA members as they drive the park to bankruptcy.

    Time to vote all these fools out!

  3. Casey Smith

    Well that didn’t take long for the first negative comment to arrive!

  4. Tauber

    Correct Casey. The West Norwalk “crazies” will always twist things the way they want. There is no proof that Oak Hills is heading for bankruptcy. It seems that every move by the OHPA in the last couple of years has been in an effort to right the ship.

  5. Jim Perkins

    Tauber:

    Take a look at the OHPA financials and you will se how “crazy” good they are doing.

  6. Paul Cantor

    @ Tauber

    September 8, 2014 Independent Auditor’s Report by Walter J Englert, CPA: “Oak Hills Park Authority incurred a deficit of $107,672 for the year ended June 30, 2014 which raises substantial doubt about it’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

    April 9, 2015 Oak Hills Park Authority Financial Analysis: “The financial issues facing Oak Hills are serious and must be addressed immediately. The winter of 2015 was one of the worst experienced in years and that has caused us to use a greater part of our bank credit line than expected as we have not been able to generate round revenue due to snow conditions. Our ability to make our September debt service payment and leave sufficient working capital for next year (other than tapping our line of credit), is the best outcome we can expect.”

  7. Tauber

    I guess you guys don’t read the papers or really dig into the financials. Park fees completely cover the costs of running the park. What makes the financials look so bad is the debt that the city dumped on the park authority after the city-managed, over budget, poorly constructed, ill-planned restaurant was built. It’s been a wonder that the park authority has been able to pay that down as much as they have.
    Wait until the medium-sized municipal driving range is constructed. What will you complain about then? That they should give ALL the money they make to the city to support other parks that cannot support themselves?

  8. Wineshine

    It’s convenient to point to a quote from the sky-is-falling CPA made more than eight months ago, and neglect to convey Mr. Mount’s statement from a recent NON article which states that a debt payment was made yesterday and that the outstanding debt payments needed to re-activate the bank line, if not repay the entire debt, would be made this summer, in time for fall maintenance work.

  9. Paul Cantor

    @Tauber

    QUESTION: WOULD A DRIVING RANGE IN OAK HILLS BE PROFITABLE?

    From a published report, November 14, 2014. Director of Finance Thomas Hamilton “also expressed concerns about the projected usage of a proposed driving range — he described the projections as “aggressive”.

    Note too: previously Total Driving Range Solutions, a private firm, was given the go ahead to construct a driving range in Oak Hills. But TDRS was unable to obtain financing for it. That is clear evidence that no bank in the private sector could be convinced that a driving range in Oak Hills Park would be profitable.

    You indicate you pay high taxes on the real estate you own. Hence one might speculate that you are reasonably well off. Would you and others be willing to put up your property as collateral to prove the banks are wrong by backing a loan to the OHPA for a driving range?

    QUESTION: IS A DRIVING RANGE NEEDED TO COVER THE COST OF OPERATING THE 18-HOLE GOLF COURSE IN OAK HILLS PARK?

    The primary justification for the driving range is that it is needed because user fees don’t cover the costs of the 18-hole golf course.

    Or as the former chairman of the Oak Hills Park Authority, Robert Virgulak, put it: “a driving range is needed so the golf course will survive. Without that additional revenue, there’s no way. We need another source of revenue and the only one that makes sense is a driving range.”

    However you claim that user fees do cover the costs of the golf course. Hence the driving range is not needed and consideration of it can be tabled.

    You can’t have it both ways. Either user fees can cover the cost of the golf course in Oak Hills Park or they can’t.

    If they can’t that is an indication of a lack of demand to play 18-holes of golf not an indication that taxpayers should pay to construct a driving range.

    If they can the driving range is not needed and there is no need for you and others to risk losing your homes.

  10. Kevin Di Mauro

    @wineshine

    A $20,000 payment to a BANK was scheduled to be made yesterday to help reestablish the OHPA’s $100,000 credit line with the BANK. As a Norwalk taxpayer, I’m really not impressed. Why did the OHPA need to spend $80,00 of their credit line just to survive through last winter? Why is the OHPA asking Norwalk taxpayers to forgive the $1,000,000 debt they owe us? It seems the OHPA has more respect for the bank than the Norwalk taxpayers especially the 90% of us who do not play golf.

  11. Debora

    The OHPA’s new rosy outlook just might have more to do with the $1.5 million the state bond commission is giving them, than suddenly golden revenue streams.

    The debt service on that bond money is paid for through your state taxes and fees. This is a case of tapping Peter to pay Paul (but not before asking Paul to forgive the debt.)

    Remember, golf is a seasonal business. The numbers always look good when the weather is nice. Are those gangbuster May numbers covering the winter costs? Or just May’s costs?

    BTW, criticism of the OHPA is not personal to Mr. Mount. He has always been respectful. We can disagree about what we view as the correct strategy for the park without being disrespectful.

    If the state is going to pony up $1.5 million for a “learning center”, i would far prefer to see a badly needed elementary school for the 99 district than a driving range.

  12. TReynolds

    You just don’t get it, do you? The state grant HAS TO BE USED at Oak Hills, not some school. The state has other programs for capital projects, schools, studies, etc. The pool that the $1.5MM came from was for (re)development of parks in CT.

  13. TReynolds

    Kev D – they have employees and benefits to cover as well, not just a golf course. That is why they need winter money.

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