Roger Scott Tennis, A Victim of Good Ol’ Boy Politics?
Grover Robinson, Larry Johnson, Bruce Caton & Mayor Mike Wiggins, P.C. Wu
Roger Scott Tennis, A Victim of Good Ol’ Boy Politics?
by Donna Siskind
Roger Scott Tennis Center recently completed a $1.5 million expansion making it the largest facility in the Gulf Coast area. Along with many years of rallying the troops and the efforts of members from Friends of Roger Scott, Councilman Larry Johnson and Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson, the expansion came to fruition. The $1.5 million went to 10 hydro-clay courts and bathroom facilities; however, there was neither a stadium court nor concessions as had originally been shown on a plat that hung in the lobby. Will this hard work pay off for the City of Pensacola as well as its tennis community? Let’s look at the facts.
Roger Scott Tennis Center is a public facility, owned by the City of Pensacola. Taxpayers may think that this facility is being managed by one of our city employees whose job it is to protect the interests of the city and this recreational facility. In this case it would seem the City of Pensacola has been acting as nothing more than a glorified landlord. Bruce Caton currently holds the city-paid position of Tennis Director with the City of Pensacola. He is also the owner and operator of Bruce Caton Tennis, a privately owned company that pays the City of Pensacola $180 per month for use of the facility to run its instructional programs. We could not locate any record of a contract or agreement between the City and Bruce Caton Tennis.
If a resident of Pensacola wanted to play on a court at Roger Scott, they would be charged somewhere between $6 and $11 per person. Bruce Caton Tennis (as well as the directors before him) has not been required to do the same, and they are offered exclusivity. City officials should have been aware of the potential revenue that this facility had to offer, rather than allowing tax dollars to subsidize the losses year after year. It appears that they have no knowledge or have underestimated the revenue brought in from the 9 teaching pros to Bruce Caton Tennis. The lost revenue could have potentially been enough to pay the salary of a city employee such as a police officer or firefighter.
Our research found that for over 15 years the City of Pensacola has allowed an outside company, to come in and use this tennis facility for the exact same amount of $180 per month with exclusivity. Sounds like a pretty good deal: the use of a multi-million dollar facility and its city paid staff, which includes Bruce Caton’s wife Sue, that currently houses 21 ladies league teams and numerous USTA teams at their disposal. This does not include the junior clinics, lessons at $50 per hour per pro, and the hundreds of hours the 9 tennis professionals working for Bruce Caton Tennis teach during any given week. Also, even prior to the recent expansion and the closing of the Pensacola Racquet Club, Roger Scott Tennis Center has offered the most available courts and the least expensive membership prices in the greater Pensacola area; this makes it very easy for a business owner to make a great income while making it very difficult for other area private clubs to compete. Bruce Caton Tennis has also not been required to cover any expenses at Roger Scott or cover the insurance, that’s been paid by the taxpayers.
It is commonplace for many public facilities to employ such a plan of allowing their Tennis Director to run a private company at their facility, while at the same time keeping their fingers on the growth of its revenue and requiring that very same company to pay for maintenance, office staff, improvements and insurance. The City of Gulf Breeze Shoreline Tennis, a much smaller club, has a very similar arrangement with 007 Tennis. In their case, the City is aware of the income derived from its instructional programs on a weekly basis and receives a percentage of revenue. This in turn means using their tax dollars to pay for other, more necessary city needs. Roger Scott Tennis Center has certainly grown in members and players who spend money taking lessons and clinics that it should have been able to stand on its own two feet if it required more than $180 for its use. Bruce Caton is also paid by the city as Tennis Director to recruit for the larger state and national tournaments that were promised after the expansion in order to bring in revenue for our city. While Roger Scott currently holds some sort of tournament just about every weekend, they are not receiving any revenues from these local tournaments and they also do not affect the income brought in during the weekdays by Bruce Caton Tennis. Having a State or National week-long tournament would certainly take their pros off the court which creates a conflict of interest when your Tennis Director profits from the weekly instructional programs.
When asked for comment, David Flaherty, the city of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Director, stated: “City receives $180.00 a month from Bruce for the use of the tennis courts for his instructional programs. You are right, the city does employ the part-time help at the front desk and they perform tasks that benefit both the city and Bruce. I have been in discussion with Bruce for a number of months about changes that I feel we will need to make at the Tennis Center, especially in light of the fact that after this year, the Tennis Center will no longer receive any subsidy to balance the center’s annual expenses. He understands that change is needed and that the city should be getting more than $180 a month for the use of the courts. I am committed to making these changes before the start of the next budget cycle which is Oct., 2010. The first change has been the creation of a Tennis Committee which met for the first time yesterday.” The role of the City of Pensacola’s Parks & Recreation Director is to be involved, and to be accountable to its citizens to protect their tax dollars. The City of Pensacola should have recognized years ago the large tennis community that Roger Scott has had at its disposal all these years. It seemed they did while recruiting for the expansion. David Flaherty admits that this arrangement needs to adjusted, but only recently began looking into this issue after the announcement was made that there will be no more subsidy.
Bruce Caton (tennis director and owner of Bruce Caton Tennis) states, “The City of Pensacola Parks and Rec Director, David Flaherty, made it clear to me before the beginning of our current fiscal year that began October 1 2009, that he expected RSTC to pay for itself this year under our current tennis director/city arrangement. Currently, we are on track to do exactly that. As of March 31, 2010, RSTC revenues exceed expenses, and, if we are careful and diligent with the utilization of our budget resources and continue with our current membership and daily fee growth patterns through September 30, then RSTC will indeed be “in the black” for this fiscal year. Incidentally, there are two potentially major contributors to Roger Scott’s bottom line, namely concessions and year round sponsorships that are in development. City parks staff, a committee of local tennis community representatives, and I are researching public tennis centers all over Florida and the South. We’re gathering Tennis Director/City contracts where possible, how and by whom pros are paid, arrangements with pros and directors regarding tournaments and other events, concessions, sponsors, etc. As soon as that information is compiled, Mr. Flaherty will be making decisions on how to improve the existing operation/management of Roger Scott. I look forward to continually working with him and the city on those improvements.”
Our councilmen will have to face their constituents come budget time in October. Having the middle-man in place takes away the responsibility the City has to overseeing the daily activities and income made at Roger Scott. It also gives them a scapegoat in which to point the finger. It would appear that this wonderful tennis center has become the victim of good ol’ boy politics. What a shame that this has to overshadow the success of our tennis community.
I have been a member of the Friends of Tennis from the beginning when we addressed the issue of the RSTC courts. We are pleased that after many years of attention a first class facility is in place. In the past I was president of the GPTA in 1974 and again 1994, so my involvement with tennis is long term.
Many of the old methods of operation are outdated and have to be modified to meet current times and financial circumstances. As a member of the Advisory Tennis Committee I am aware that most if not all of your comments are a bit “behind the curve”. By that I mean those policies and procedures are currently being addressed.
My interest is that the facility operates on a break-even or profitable basis. At the current time we have a competent professional parks director and a capable manager of the facility who have the same interest and are proceeding with changes that will accomplish that goal. Roger Scott is not a victim of outdated “Good Ol’ Boy Politics”, but is a modern state of the art facility that is being administered for the benefit of the taxpayers and tennis playing public.
Yes, Roger Scott is a state of the art facility. Unfortunately, the facility is the only thing that is state of the art. To say that a committee has been formed to “look into making changes” is what is behind the curve. Changes should have been made BEFORE they received their $1.5 million for the expansion. It is also concerning to me as a tax payer, that Bruce Caton’s comment states that they are looking at concessions and sponsorships for the money it will take for Roger Scott to stand on it’s own. How about looking into your pockets Bruce? Which hat do you have on now? Tennis Director or business owner? All of this non-sense makes one wonder where the motivation is coming from. Also, if one wants to know who the “good ol’ boys” are, just take a look at the members on this committee, Yikes! No agendas there! Lol!
Although I found the information in this article to be an eye-opener for me, my bigger concern is who’s teaching our kids over there? I had to pull my boys out of summer camp because I have no confidence in the instructors. I want my boys to look up to and admire law abiding citizens that want to make a difference in this world, not muck it all up! Does anyone know if this is the first time there has been drug testing over there?
I have been watching this slug fest from the outside and quite honestly I am insulted by the turn of events. This is not good for tennis, the community or anyone involved. I certainly hope that everyone with an opinion in this finds a way to see the other points of view and realize everyone is fighting for the same cause. While it is insulting to see Bruce and this “committee” be responsible for setting policies that effect the tax payers, other clubs and tennis inside and outside of Roger Scott, I think anyone would agree that Bruce is a great ambassador for tennis and is loved by all. It is quite obvious this is merely a case of the “fox guarding the hen house”. Dave Flaherety and Larry Johnson should be exiled out of this country for allowing this mess to happen! What comes next lawsuits, liabilities, a few more clubs closing..pros that cant make a living…..and oh….a steady decline in junior tennis! There are rules to how public entities have to be run and clearly the line has been broken. Don’t shoot the messenger for delivering the message!
“Ignorance does not justify oppression. It only makes it possible.”
Social oppression occurs when people of authority seek to surpress the truth. This country was founded on truth and freedom of expression. When did it become unpopular to tell the truth? When did we decide to hide from information that, while uncomfortable, may provide us with the opportunity to review, analyze, and make hard decisions that are good for the whole? When did a select group of individuals…the same individuals that show up time and again…become the true representation of this community’s tennis voice? When did asking hard questions become an open invitation for personal attack? While I understand that many people have accused me of personally attacking Bruce Caton Tennis, when did our city leaders…Roger Scott’s leader…become off limits to political review…financial review? Is it not our obligation as citizens – taxpayers – to question our leaders – to stay awake and vigilant as citizens? It is, after all, our money, our energy that pays for this facility and again on the courts.
I am the publisher of First Serve Magazine. I have come from a long line of publishers who have grappled with First Amendment rights and the backlash of small minded people. I will not stay in the shadows talking only of things that are about “playing nice”. It is my job to present tennis Pensacola with all it’s wonderful successes, challenging issues, educational opportunities, etc. If that means that I lose some readers, I will be forever sorry for that. And, I will continue to have the courage of my convictions. Pensacola Junior Tennis took a hit with the loss of Scott Robinson, an example of the power wielded by this situation. Children were hurt and parents were unhappy. That is something worth standing up for. Of all the issues presented in the article, this issue was the one closest to my heart – other parents’ hearts. To me, this was unfair oppression.
I do not offer this response as defense. I offer it in hopes that everyone will remember that we all make choices. There were choices to be made all along the way…by our leaders, by Bruce Caton Tennis, by attorneys, by commissions and parks and recreation leaders, by me, by this committee, and, ultimately, by the taxpayers. If we cannot police our own community, what will ultimately happen to this facility and tennis in general? Critical conversations are necessary and change is inevitable. Always there is pressure to oppress the truth when it appears personal or uncomfortable. It is not my desire to alienate and I have been saddened by the vicious response and heartened by those who are willing to go through the uncomfortable places to a place of rational review; and, hopefully, change that benefits us all.
Thank you for listening.”
First and foremost I would personally like to thank Donna for having the wisdom and integrity to publish her article. I have been involved in tennis for over 32 years, and directed some major facilities in both the northeast and the south. Roger Scott Tennis Center is a premier public tennis facility. Its one of the gems on the gulf coast, and with the addition of the 10 new clay courts the Pensacola community is truly blessed with a fantastic opportunity to grow tennis not only within the community, but statewide.
With my departure (firing) by Bruce Caton I have had some time to reflect upon the situation a great deal. I am currently managing and directing a great facility in Connecticut where I grew up. It was VERY difficult to leave the Pensacola area as I came there to be closer to my mom, and to remain within driving distance of my two fantastic boys that live in Baton Rouge. When I arrived at Roger Scott I came with 110% dedication and committment to doing what I have always done. Create the largest and best junior program in the area, and to quickly meet men and womens teams that could use a high level of energy, passion, and on court professionalism to help to both improve and enjoy their game. I spent the first month reaching out to all area junior tennis players and their families, and very quicky established a junior SELECT program that over 150 kids joined and attended on a regular basis. I was also fortunate to meet some terrific moms and dads, and things were heading in a very positive direction.
Just to set the “record” straight. I was NOT fired due to performance, I was asked toleave because I questioned and went above the Directors head to find answers as to where monies for the largest junior program in the area were going. My desire was to make a living…and be compensated for my efforts and be able to pay the help that I needed to expand the program. I spoke on several occassions to my direct supervisor and when I found out that not a penny of the revenue generated from the program was going to the city of Pensacola I was astounded to say the least. In my 22 years as a director, manager and professional I ALWAYS assisted my staff in their endeavors to grow and be successful. This was not the case at Roger Scott, and for a PUBLIC facilty to not receive more than $180/month for instructional use is absurd. More importantly for someone else to make a considerable amount of money for doing absolutely nothing is even worse. I have no personal agenda with Bruce. He is a terrific person, and well liked by most. This was a question of what was morally, ethically, and even financially what was fair to the city of Pensacola.
Those of you who think this was personal for me with Bruce are wrong. Donna’s article was totally accurate and MANY people in the tennis community…as well as current Roger Scott staff professionals have known about the financial dealings there for a very long time. The difference is that I stood up for what is right, and was fired for bringing all of this to the city’s attention. What is personal for me is that I gave my heart and soul to the Pensacola tennis community, and to be forced to leave the area and my family has been very tough. One thing for sure is that the mindset of the best pros in the area of Pensacola is they do not want to be a part of the situation that exists at Roger Scott. Thats a shame for the community as there are some great pros who would enhance the facility if they were there.
I really hope that everyone will sit back and see this for what it really is. Let the rumors go away…let the personal feelings be put on the back burner…..Roger Scott Tennis Cenetr is a PUBLIC facility…period……and no one person should have the authority and right to use it entirely for their own personal finacial gain and allow the facility to lose money…thats bad business…and bad for tennis. I took this matter all the way to the top of city management, and I really hope that my efforts enable them to see whats right and make some drastic changes. Its just a shame that the community had to lose someone that really wanted to help the facility grow and expand…reach out to the kids in the community…and make the facility profitable.
I appreciate the tremendous support I received when I was there…and when I was fired…and even though I left without saying goodbye to so many of you it was just too difficult for me…especially with your kids…but know the memories I have are mostly great ones…and its just a shame that the “Good Ole Boy” system exists.
Thanks for listening, and thanks Donna for all you do for the tennis community!