Jul. 12—The Exeter Township supervisors voted down a pair of proposals for managing and revamping the Reading Country Club's golf course and restaurant facilities.
The township bought the country club in 2006 for about $12 million, in an eminent domain acquisition to stop plans for a 550-house development on the site.
In 2017, the township closed the club's restaurant facilities after evicting JMH Inc., the company that ran the former ViVa restaurant in Wyomissing, over a liquor license dispute.
New Jersey-based Morningstar Golf & Hospitality LLC was hired by the township in October 2021 in a five-year deal to reopen banquet and catering services at the country club.
That agreement was terminated in February, after supervisors claimed that the contract, as well as the work already performed by Morningstar, was unsatisfactory.
Supervisors then agreed to put out a new request for proposals, this time for management of the club's golf and food services.
Two proposals the township received were voted down 4-1 at a meeting Monday.
Supervisors voted not to have either Brown Golf Management of Camp Hill, Cumberland County, or Corsi Associates LLC, of Springfield, Delaware County, manage the club.
Supervisor Ted Gardella said the township appreciated the timely submissions, but the proposals' costs were beyond what Exeter is willing to pay.
Brown's proposal was to manage all areas of the property, including an 18-hole golf course, pro shop, snack bar, bar, restaurant and catering facilities, at a cost of $80,000 up front, and 25% of all profits.
"We're taking on all of the costs of the front end, and paying an open-ended 25%, I'm not comfortable with that," board Chairman George Bell said.
The proposal by Corsi offered to revamp the club's shuttered food and beverage operations at an upfront cost of about $228,000, not including the costs for furniture, equipment, personnel, or monthly check-ins by Corsi following their redesign.
"This is nearly three times the (Brown's) amount up front, with really no guarantee of making improvements to the golf course," Gardella said.
Supervisors David Vollmer Jr. and Michelle Kircher agreed that the costs of both proposals were excessive.
Supervisor David Hughes gave the sole vote against notifying the companies of Exeter's disinterest.
"How much time did you spend talking to these two businesses and understanding what their proposals are?" Hughes asked, "What's your alternate plan, since you rejected both of these?"