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Ohio HBPA Board Meeting
11AM, Tuesday, December 1, 2011
Sanese Center, Columbus, OH
Members Present:
President: Mark Doering Directors: Nancy Garrison, Fred Nemann, Joe Poole, Robin Schuster, Bob Reeves, Steve Roberts, Alan White, Jim Yaegel and Rich Zielinski
Members Unable to Attend:
Directors: Tim Hamm, John Piehowicz
Others Present:
Executive Director Dave Basler, Lobbyist Tom Pappas, OTBO Executive Director Gayle Babst
Call To Order/ Approval of Minutes:
President Doering called the meeting to order. After review Director Yaegel moved and Director Garrison seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the October 4, 2011 Ohio HBPA board of directors meeting and the October 12, 2011 Conference Call of the Ohio HBPA board of directors. Motion passed.
Special Orders of Business:
Ohio HBPA lobbyist Tom Pappas and the executive director led a discussion regarding the latest developments on the VLT negotiations between the tracks and the horsemen’s organizations.
Discussion was also held regarding a draft piece of legislation that was to be introduced by Representative Blessing in the coming weeks which included amongst other things language involving minimum racing dates which would replace the current language in 3769 regarding minimum live racing dates which are tied to simulcast revenues. The executive director provided a written copy of the proposed new language to the board.
Executive Director’s Report:
The executive director provided a written copy of the proposed 2012 Thistledown Racing Dates Agreement which had been worked on and negotiated over the past several months with Caesar’s officials. Director Schuster moved and Director Garrison seconded a motion for the executive director to enter the HBPA into the proposed agreement with Caesar’s. Motion passed.
Brief discussion was held regarding the National HBPA Winter Convention to be held in January 2012 to ascertain which board members would be attending the convention.
Basler and Director Reeves updated the board on the National HBPA executive committee meeting held in October in Lexington with the highlights being the search for the a new CEO for the National HBPA. The board was also informed that the National HBPA was no longer a board member of the NTRA due to the NTRA’s unwillingness to accept a proposed reduction in dues paid by the National HBPA to the NTRA. Due to this the executive committee has approved a plan for National to seek a lobbying firm in Washington D. C. in order to preserve the horsemen’s rights under the Interstate Horse Racing Act. The cost of the lobbyist would be shared amongst all National HBPA affiliates.
New Business:
Purses and Wagering
Basler gave details on recent discussions between himself and TVG which were being held in an effort to reach terms under which the OHBPA would approve the sending of the Ohio thoroughbred signals to TVG for wagering and broadcast purposes. Basler expressed optimism that a deal would be struck by the end of the year which would bring significant additional purse revenues to each of our tracks. Due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations no further details of the discussions will be described in these minutes.
Basler updated the board on the current status of the purse accounts at each of our tracks including a correction of approximately $170,000 at Thistledown due to an overpayment of city taxes in both 2010 and 2011 which had been discovered by the HBPA. $82,000 had already been credited to the purse account for the correction and Basler anticipated that an additional $88,000 would be credited to the account within the next week.
A meeting between Beulah Park General Manager Jim McKinney and racing secretary Ed Vomacka with the executive director and director Poole was discussed. Beulah had proposed a purse cut but after discussion and review of handouts with purse projections provided by the executive director it was agreed upon by all parties that purses would not be cut at Beulah.
Benevolence, Policies and Organization
After review and discussion of a benevolence personal benevolence request director Yaegel moved and director Schuster seconded a motion that the executive director due further research and determine if assistance could be obtained from the National HBPA Industry Assistance fund for the request. Motion passed.
After review and discussion Director Yaegel moved and Director Nemann seconded a motion to deny a personal benevolence request. Motion passed.
Budget and Finance
Extensive discussion was held regarding the proposed 2012 OHPBA budget, a written copy of which was provided by the executive director. The proposed budget had previously been reviewed and approved by the OHPBA Budget and Finance Committee.
As part of the budget discussion the contribution schedule for the Chaplaincy program was discussed at length. Director Reeves moved and Director seconded a motion that contributions be made every 30 days beginning with the opening of the backside at the track in which a chaplain was working. Father Niehaus at River Downs would receive $750 upon the opening of the backside and an additional $750 on July 4th. Motion passed. President Doering and Director Yaegel voted no.
As part of the budget discussion the ice machines were discussed at length. Director Yaegel moved and Director Poole seconded a motion that the HBPA not buy or make major repairs over cost over $1,500 on ice machines going forward. Motion failed. Director Yaegel voted yes and Director Garrison abstained.
Director Yaegel moved and President Doering seconded a motion for the board to go into executive session.
Following the executive session Director Reeves moved Director Garrison seconded a motion to adopt the proposed 2012 OHBPA budget with adjustments made for contributions to the Chaplaincy Program, ice machines at River Downs and employee salaries to reflect raises and bonuses. Motion passed.
Discussion was held regarding the next OHBPA board meeting date after which it was determined the date would be Thursday, February 9, 2012.
Adjournment:
Director Schuster moved and Director Poole seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion passed. |