‘We abrogated our responsibilities’

Camden Select Board chastises itself for Snow Bowl deficit, forms new committees to help

Lynda Clancy

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 3:15pm

A view from the top of the Camden Snow Bowl, Winter 2016. (Photo courtesy Peter Lindquist)

CAMDEN — According to at least one Camden Select Board member, town leadership abrogated responsibilities for fiscal oversight at the Camden Snow Bowl. The $297,000 deficit at the municipally-owned winter ski facility is partially reflective on the Select Board’s lack of guidance, agreed the five members, as they delved long and hard May 10 into their own culpability.

“We have not done our job as the Select Board for not handling this issue,” said board member Jim Heard, at the outset of the discussion.

The meeting had been scheduled following a May 3 workshop, at which the Select Board pledged to establish an ad hoc Snow Bowl budget committee, and talk about forming another longterm committee to help the Snow Bowl build a stronger year-round revenue stream at Ragged Mountain.

At the May 10 meeting, they formed the Snow Bowl Budget Committee, a five-member committee, with two alternates, that will work with town and Snow Bowl staff to build the 2017 budget. That budget runs from July 1 to June 30.

They agreed to continue the discussion about appointing interested citizens to the new Snow Bowl Advisory Committee, whose mission and make-up will be determined at the May 17 Select Board meeting. (Click here for the full agenda and back-up materials for that meeting).

The new ad hoc committee has six weeks to help the Snow Bowl staff assemble a 2016-2017 budget, and will sunset as a committee June 30. Members of that committee are Dave Nazaroff, Paul Cavalli, T. C. Bland, and Brian Robinson, with alternates Pete Orne and Chris Morong.

The May 10 meeting began with initial talk about the number of citizens who have volunteered to help the Snow Bowl climb out of the red. Several of them had signed up at the May 3 workshop, when the Select Board heard from Snow Bowl Manager Landon Fake about how the municipally-owned ski mountain had accrued such debt over the past two winters.

While it has been recognized that the excessively warm winter and short ski season tipped the facility into a deficit, there was also the leftover expenses from the previous ski season, which began late on the heels of a major terrain redevelopment.

As the May 10 discussion began, Heard stepped in and said: “For the longest time we have abrogated our responsibilities for not holding Pat [Town Manager Finnigan] accountable for the Snow Bowl issues, and Landon accountable for the issues.”

Board Chairman John French countered, “We are also responsible for the approving the budget.”

“Our responsibility is to manage Pat, and Pat, in turn, is to manage Landon,” said Heard. “It’s our responsibility to have done that.”

“What do to differently?” asked French.

“Have conversations with Pat,” said Heard. “At the end of the period of time, if those things aren’t done, there ought to be a conversation. Effective in performance review.”

We are getting close to a personnel issue,” said French. “The board needs to look at this and look at efficiencies. I don’t believe we gave any direction or guidance after this new facility came on line. The added revenues and expenses we thought would take of renovations and trails. It’s our fault. We need to look at it as a team, figure out what is best for the community.”

Board member Leonard Lookner said: “I suggested we all resign for failure to take responsibility for what happened at the Snow Bowl. At best, we were naive. I felt improvements would create a dynamic that meant great ticket sales and justify a higher operating budget. My feeling is that we are generally naive about the Snow Bowl’s ability to generate enough income to justify expenses. We need help and this is a way to get help from the community.”

As the board talked, the members agreed that bringing interested citizens to the table to help would be a positive step.

The alternative, Lookner said, would be to: “go out and hire some ‘expert’ to examine the budget. A consultant. I think this much better.”

Martin Cates said the goal was to, “move forward with our mission tonight, and do just that: Move forward.”

Lookner responded: “I don’t see anything wrong with saying why are we here.”

Board member Don White said that he reconsidered his opinion about not forming yet another committee.

“I see it as a positive direction for the entire town,” he said. “This is no longer that little mountain on the Barnestown Road. We need some assistance. John has said from the beginning that this committee will be a one-time thing. Maybe those fresh eyes will be just what’s needed in going the next step. There are some hurdles to get over This is a huge project for us. Sooner or later, we need to expand beyond our borders of the town of Camden. Even if we have the best winter coming up, we might still be challenged to show up with a positive cash flow.”

He said the deficit is a wake-up call.

What to do about the Camden Snow Bowl’s $260,000 deficit

Sales, revenue up for season ski passes up at Camden Snow Bowl

Camden readies Snow Bowl for new season; ticket, season pass price increases included (July 20, 2015)

Camden approves Ledgewood contract for phase 2 of mountain work (May 20, 2015)

With record snowfall, Camden's Ragged Mountain Recreation Area begins making financial headway

Camden Snow Bowl Redevelopment Committee, Ragged Mountain Foundation hold community meeting (posted March 2, 2015)

• Camden Snow Bowl project up to $8.4 million, fundraising resumes (Feb. 3, 2015)

Making tracks in some dreamy snow at Camden Snow Bowl (Jan. 30)

Snow Bowl to fire up chairlifts; refunds offered to passholders (Jan 21)

Camden Planning Board to begin Snow Bowl lodge review (Jan. 9)

Camden Select Board brings in old friend to help with Snow Bowl progress (Jan. 7)