Longtime Manager O’Brien Resigns After New Beach Club Board Takes Over

Mike O’Brien, who has in the minds of many become synonymous with the Key Biscayne Beach Club, stunned members this week when he tendered his resignation as a new board of directors took office in a bitterly-contested leadership dispute.

There were audible gasps from some in the room as O’Brien announced his decision at the club’s annual meeting Wednesday. O’Brien said he had never seen the club so divided. He said he hoped  his departure would help the financially-struggling club cut its payroll and hopefully find its footing.

“We can move on,” he said.

“You have left us all a little speechless,” said Donna Rice, the club’s president, to loud applause. “You have given your heart and soul for us and the island.”

O’Brien said he would stay on for a while to help his successor.

Members of the Key Biscayne Beach Club listen during annual meeting, April 24, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)

The leadership dispute at the club led to several contentious meetings where ballot counts for new directors did not take place. Critics said the balloting procedures did not follow the organization’s governing documents. Rice and her supporters said failing to count member ballots could not be allowed to continue. Saturday, in the presence of observers, a locked ballot box was opened by force and ballots tallied. Former Mayor Mayra Peña Lindsay was among those present.

At the annual meeting, which proceeded with little open rancor, there was little talk of the ballot dispute. Members did volunteer for several new committees Rice says are being formed to turn the club around by improving membership, collections, and marketing and promoting the historic facility.