WARREN City stalls on how to run Avalon

Golf is being played as usual while city officials ponder legal maneuvers.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- The city's law director and director of operations await word from city council on what to do about Avalon South Golf Course.
Meanwhile, the golf course was open and drew golfers in springlike weather Friday -- under the management of Tony Joy, despite the fact that city officials have asked Joy to leave.
City council's Avalon South special committee discussed legal matters concerning the golf course Friday, both in public and executive session, but could not reach a consensus on whether to hire outside counsel or use the city's law department.
Committee member James Pugh, D-6th, said he favors outside counsel and is bringing to council legislation to hire outside legal help; but Gary Fonce, D-at large, said he is opposed. Committee chairman Brendan Keating said he is undecided.
Their arguments: "The citizens of Warren need to feel comfortable that an independent person would take charge and take it to the level that it needs to go to," Pugh said.
Fonce said hiring outside lawyers would likely cost at least $50,000 and be so time consuming that the golf season would be well under way by the time the dispute is resolved.
Greg Hicks, city law director, would like to have a decision soon. "Somebody's got to do something here. You can't just sit here doing nothing," he said.
City officials recently asked Joy, who has been operating the course for the city since the 1980s, to leave. Joy has filed a breach of contract suit against the city and asked for an injunction to halt his eviction from the course, which is owned by the city but located in Howland. Joy has been in arrears in rent and property taxes and he and the city are disputing figures. FBI agents recently seized city records, including 10 boxes concerning the golf course.
Frank Tepesta, the city's operations director, said that if the city were to take over golf course operation, it would need to obtain expensive specialized golf course maintenance equipment and likely hire extra staff. "With the fees that you produce, you should have enough money to pay for those expenses," he said. "We're just waiting for direction."
Keating said the city could either operate the course itself or enter into contract for someone to manage it.