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members approved architect Sarto Schickel’s wonderful design, which increased water area by about 40%. The increased capacity
enabled us to expand the membership to 450 families over three seasons to help pay for the construction. The Club secured a mortgage and everyone expected the renovation to be finished for the 2004 season.
Unfortunately, many projected completion dates came and went due to contractor understaffing and complications from the collapse of a portion of the rear wall. The renovation was barely completed in time for the 2005 season.
The loss of the entire 2004 season after dues had been paid was a financial hardship for the Club and our members. It was also a nightmare for parents trying to plan their children’s summer. The Club’s sense of community was severely tested. Many members were concerned that the project would never be completed and the Club might never reopen. But many people also put enormous effort into keeping the Club alive through these difficult times. Critical to these efforts were the persistence of the board, despite the enormous and unanticipated additional demands on their volunteer time; the diligence of architect Sarto Schickel; the forbearance of our dues-paying members; and the cooperation of Citizens Bank, which holds our loan. In winter 2005-2006, several members lent the Club a total of $22,000 to ease the cash flow problems caused by the construction delay.
The construction delay led to litigation. Our construction attorneys, Jeri Marston and Lisa Barton of Bazelon Less & Feldman, agreed to take on a contingency basis our defense against the contractor’s claims for over $400,000 and our countersuit for damages due to the delay. We remain deeply grateful to Lisa, Jeri and BLF for their assistance; without that agreement, the Club could not have mounted an adequate defense. For almost two years, various claims and counterclaims flew back and forth, much documentation was produced, and court-mandated settlement efforts had no result. Finally the case went to trial in August 2007. Judge Albert Sheppard issued his ruling in September: the contractor got only the balance due on the contract (less than $80,000), but the Club got no damages.
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