VineRipe Grill Oust: Questions On Process, Optics, Next Steps

BROOKLINE, MA — The future of VineRipe Grill, which has operated out of the vendor space at the Robert T Lynch golf course for the past 13 years is still unclear, even as its contract expired at midnight March 31.

After discovering VineRipe might not have its contract renewed in the middle of a pandemic, fans had questions for the decision makers. More than 100 residents packed a Park and Recreation Commission public hearing and pleaded for a course reversal and demanded to know why the public wasn't consulted. The Select Board asked to hear more, too.

The day before VineRipe Grill's contract was set to expire, town officials outlined the process that lead to the vote, and the subsequent push back, all of which was legal, according to the town's attorney.

Because the town's request for proposal process failed with no responses in December, the town opted to go with a truncated request for quotes process, they said.

An RFQ doesn't require advertising under the law, said the town's Chief Procurement Officer David Geanakakis, who is responsible for awarding the contracts, as he has been for two decades.

"This is the standard, Massachusetts General Law procurement process that is allowed," Geanakakis said.

He said he had not yet awarded a contract to anyone, as the town allows for public input. But it's not clear how much of a difference public input in this case will make.

What happened

The Park and Recreation Commission voted unanimously on March 9 to award the new year contract to Chris Yorty, of Bisq Meats & Sandwiches.

Park and Recreation Commission Chair John Bain told the Select Board he wanted the town to make the golf course restaurant “a preferred destination" for both golfers and the general public.

"To accomplish this, we need to rethink the operations and business practices of this facility," he said. "Without changing our thinking, there would be no progress whatsoever."

But VineRipe Grill owner Lisa Wisel told Patch previously that no one ever approached her about a wanting a change and she felt she had a good relationship with the course. She said it was only recently, amid the pandemic, that she began feeling pressure to give deep discounts to golf staff. It wasn't until seeing the RFP that she realized the town wanted more money from a vendor. But she said those were the only clues to a desire for change.

A request from Patch on March 15 for a copy of the request for quotes was not returned from the commission.

"The selected vendor was —above all— the most enthusiastic and aligned with our goals, looking at a year-round golf course and customer service marketing efforts," said commission member Antonia Bellalta.

Wisel questioned how that could be with the more simple RFQ process. She also questioned the motives, and optics, behind the commission's decision given her experience, accolades and dedication to the community.

"I am a 63-year-old, female-owned local restaurant [owner] who gives back to the community," she said. "The winning bidder is a much younger male with no connection to Brookline."

Recreation Director Leigh Jackson said employee discounts would be part of an effort to improve the culture of the golf course.

"It’s about supporting our employees, making sure the town employees feel motivated, making sure they can get a quick meal," she said. "So they can get back out on the course and deliver great customer service."

Timing

But many have questioned the timing of that push, coming in the middle of a pandemic, when restaurants are struggling.

"The timing wasn't perfect," said David Gladstone a Town Meeting member.

Others decried the process.

"The staff and members of the Park and Recreation Commission made a terrible error of judgment in awarding the contract to another restaurant, and I hope that decision gets reversed," said Ruth Kaplan who is a regular customer at VineRipe. "What concerns me as much as the substance of the decision itself, is the lack of transparency in this process."

Kaplan said the process has been "cryptic and confusing" to the public.

The commission voted on March 9 to effectively end its relationship with VineRipe Grill. A day later no one on the commission told Wisel or explained next steps. On March 18, after pushback from the community, the commission held a public hearing during which it spent a couple minutes outlining how they got to the vote. But more than 100 people decried it and expressed concern and confusion. During that meeting the commission before they awarded a contract it needed to go to the Select Board for approval. This week Select Board chair Bernard Greene said it was not the select board's decision to make.

"I'm just baffled by this process," said Kaplan.

The Park and Recreation Commission is set to meet April 5 to discuss the RFQ process and potentially reconsideration of their vote and possible new vote on the golf course concession vendor.

Previously: Brookline Votes Not To Keep VineRipe Grill At Golf Course..

• New Details About VineRipe Grill Oust: Brookline Sets ...
• VineRipe Grill Oust: Brookline Residents Push Back ...
• Lisa Wisel of VipeRipe Grill Speaks Out
• Brookline Select Board Preview: VineRipe Grill ... - Patch