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03/08/2022 02:35 PMAfter the operator of the Clinton Town Beach concession stand declined to run the stand again this summer, the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) will meet with the town manager to find a solution for summer 2022.
For the last two years, Hog Wild has been the operator of the concession stand at the town beach. However, at a PRC meeting on Feb, 8 the commission announced that Hog Wild had declined to run the stand again this season, citing the high electric costs.
At a March 1 commission meeting, PRC Chair Joe Schettino said that he and Parks & Recreation Department Director Bo Potter would meet with Town Manager Karl Kilduff at a future date to discuss what to do with the stand.
“It’s going to be a brainstorming meeting,” Schettino told the Harbor News about his idea for the meeting. “I want to see what ideas he might have.”
The PRC discussed the possibility of using a request for proposal to find operators for the stand. During the March 1 and 8 meetings, Schettino and the rest of the commission also outlined several issues with the concession stand that complicate the search process.
Schettino said that to him, the beach concession stand “is a service, not truly a business.” In other words, Schettino said that whoever operates the stand can’t go in expecting to make a large profit.
“We can’t guarantee the number of days you’ll be open there,” Schettino said.
Not only is the stand open seasonally, it’s also weather dependent.
“It’s not like the town dock stand. If it’s a rainy day, nobody is going down to the beach. Having people come by depends on the weather.”
PRC member Chris Passante pointed out that large families are more likely to pack a lunch at home and bring it to the beach rather than buy multiple lunches at the stand which further reduces customers.
“I don’t think it’s fair someone has to pay when we can’t guarantee the number of days it will be open,” said Schettino in reference to the fees associated with opening the stand.
Commission member Michael Sutyla posed the question of having the town run the stand, but Schettino said he didn’t think it was feasible.
“We’ve tried it before and it didn’t work. It would also be another aspect [Potter] has to be concerned with,” said Schettino, pointing out how many facilities Potter is already charged with running.
Additionally, the commission agreed that finding people to volunteer time is now harder than it used to be, which means help would have to be hired. But Schettino lamented that there is no room in the department’s budget at this time to hire part time help or to pay for the goods.
“Honestly rather than the town run it, I’d rather see the stand close for the year,” Schettino said.
At the close for the discussion, commission member Richard Karcich made a statement that most agreed with: “It would be a real black eye on the town if we couldn’t open this summer.”