Town report denies country club controversy

APPLE VALLEY • As a special meeting on alleged misconduct that led to the town’s purchase of the Apple Valley Country Club looms, a staff report and the local business owner at the heart of the accusations are denying any inappropriate behavior.

“I don’t believe that there were any ‘backroom deals’ as was insinuated,” said Tom Carpino, owner of Mama Carpino’s Italian restaurant, in a statement.

At the Nov. 10 council meeting, Mayor Rick Roelle said Carpino told him he “‘had the check written to purchase the country club’” until a council member, a planning commissioner and town staff member dissuaded Carpino from the purchase. This was a serious departure from previous reports to council that no one was interested in the struggling club — hence the town’s decision to buy it last November.

According to a staff report released Thursday and prepared at Roelle’s request, Carpino called Mayor Pro Tem Scott Nassif in early September 2008 to discuss partnering with the town to take over the country club.

During a Sept. 15, 2008 meeting with Carpino, Bob Tinsley (Carpino’s real estate broker and a town planning commissioner), Town Manager Frank Robinson and a few others, staff reportedly told the long-time restaurant owner that they couldn’t entertain any partnership options until the town’s offer to purchase the club was approved by its board.

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Brooke Edwards may be reached at (760) 955-5358 or at bedwards@VVDailyPress.com.