Audit Finds That Douglaston Manor is Operating a Catering Facility, But Not a Restaurant

An audit by city Comptroller John Liu’s office found that while the Douglaston Manor was being maintained as a catering facility, a restaurant was not being operated at the landmarked site as its contract required.

A spokesman for Liu said it is unlikely that Teck Gourmet Five, which operates the Douglaston Golf Course and the Douglaston Manor, would owe the city additional fees as a result of the audit because the company’s revenue is far below the threshold that would require it to pay percentage-based license fees.

“They don’t owe money,” said Scott Sieber, a spokesman for the comptroller. “Essentially, we’re recommending that they operate the facility as the contract required. They need to maintain the restaurant.”

Teck Gourmet Five could not immediately be reached for comment.

On May 19, 2004, the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation entered into a 20-year license agreement with Douglaston Golf to renovate, operate and maintain an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and catering/restaurant facility at the Douglaston Golf Course.

Douglaston Golf then entered into a sub-license agreement with Teck on June 2, 2005 to operate a catering and restaurant facility at the Douglaston Manor.

The comptroller’s audit was carried out to determine whether Teck had properly calculated its gross receipts and license fees to the city.

The audit’s recommendations would require Teck to operate the restaurant as required by its contract as well as strengthen its internal controls over the financial operations by purchasing press-printed pre-numbered guest checks, issuing the checks in sequential order and ensuring that special event guest check revenue is accounted for in the company’s records.

The comptroller’s office has received written responses from the Parks Department, Teck and Douglaston Golf that indicated agreement with the audit’s findings, Sieber said.