Warren looks at options for music hall
City aims to end subsidy, bring in more revenueBy MARLY KOSINSKI / Tribune Chronicle
WARREN - Packard Music Hall director Christopher Stephenson said Thursday that he is not opposed to partnering with a national company to promote shows and increase revenue.
But he cautioned city council members at a Packard Music Hall committee meeting against allowing an outside company to come in and take over the hall's operations. He said such a move would jeopardize community events currently held at the facility and would not necessarily give the city the revenue boost it expects.
Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said last week he wanted council's permission to seek a "Request for Qualifications" for a consultant who would help the city put together a profile of Packard Music Hall and a management agreement for which companies would submit bids. He said his intent was to eliminate the city's subsidy of the hall, which this year is $250,000.
Deputy Law Director James Ries said the city legally could hire a management firm because the facility is owned by the city and is operated with city employees with a city subsidy.
O'Brien said his proposal has three goals: preserving Packard Music Hall for the community and satisfying the Packard Trust, maximizing the hall's assets, and increasing the tourism dollars that flow through the facility. He also said the improvements being done this summer, including a new stage and lighting system, will enhance the hall's offerings and make it more attractive to potential bidders.
Councilwoman Sue Hartman, D-7th Ward, said she agreed with O'Brien's proposal in theory and also favored eliminating the hall's subsidy, but she said she disagreed with hiring a consultant. She said putting together a management agreement could be done in-house with Stephenson, human resources and the law department, who could use Youngstown's contract for the Covelli Centre as a guide.
However, O'Brien said a consultant is needed because management of entertainment venues is a special area of law that requires expertise on the subject. The mayor said he and other city administrators have considered at least 20 different ideas to increase revenue and decrease expenses, and his proposal for the music hall was among them.
"Manufacturing job losses have left a huge hole in the city's budget and we're not even left with enough fingers to plug the dike," O'Brien said.
Councilman Doc Pugh, D-6th Ward, said he thinks hiring a management company is the wrong way to go in this economy.
"There is no money here to be spent on entertainment. I think we should tighten our belts as much as possible and tread water until things get better. Hopefully, we can ride the wave when the economy starts to turn around and Chris (Stephenson) can use some of his ideas then," Pugh said.
Stephenson said he understood the city's need to look at a management agreement, but asked council to consider all options, including a cooperative agreement involving him and a national promotions company that would allow management of the facility to remain local while he could take advantage of national exposure for shows and bookings.
Ries said public money cannot be used to promote shows, but a management company could promote shows and the city could write an agreement that would ensure its subsidy is paid before the private company makes a profit. He said such an arrangement would enable the music hall to boost profits by changing the business model from a rental-only facility while maintaining a local connection.
"Just like Youngstown does with the Covelli Centre. A local guy runs the day-to-day operations, but a national company helps him book and promote events," Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin said. "Chris has done an excellent job managing Packard Music Hall. We just need to find a proper marriage between local control and national exposure to make it profitable."
No legislation to allow O'Brien to seek an RFQ has been prepared yet, according to committee chairman Vince Flask, D-5th Ward.
|
moonie
|
|
|---|---|
|
06-12-09 3:20 PM
|
Packard Music Hall is just another victim of O'Brien and company's poor management of the city's funds. It'll be Packard Music Hall and then it'll be more safety forces, then it'll be something else.
|
|
smokey
|
|
|
06-12-09 12:35 PM
|
GOT CUT OFF! grrrrrrrr, anyway before laying off the safety forces!!!!!!!!!
|
|
smokey
|
|
|
06-12-09 12:35 PM
|
geeeeeeeeeee, ya think he would have thought of this BEFORE!!
|
|
OutsideTheBox
|
|
|
06-12-09 12:15 PM
|
You're right Business - Somehow I can't help but think this is GM's fault.
|
|
truthhurts
|
|
|
06-12-09 11:45 AM
|
the problem is Mr Stephenson as director should have been proactive rather than reactive. I am sorry, but there is hardley ever anytype of diverse entertainment at PMH. Everyone who keeps hollaring Gift...well the car analogy was good. But if the winner is unemployed and broke, then the gift is useless anyway isn't it? Would you suggest that car winner put gas in his gift or food on his table? Mr. Packard's gift has to evolve w/ the times. And if they cannot find a way to diversify both funding streams as well as entertainment then PMH will crumble from BAD MANAGEMENT...not lack of intrest from the citizens of warren!
|
|
Beansprout
|
|
|
06-12-09 10:53 AM
|
Great posts both noncompomentis and insider. There are still a few with good, commom sense!
|
|
insider
|
|
|
06-12-09 10:09 AM
|
The people of Warren are like a guy who wins a new car in a contest, and then complains that he has to pay for his own gas if he wants to drive it. Here's my idea to pacify those in the city who don't want to spend one more dime to upkeep this "gift". Board it up. It'll then blend right in with much of the residential area around it. Then you can change the name of the city to Myopia.
|
|
noncompomentis
|
|
|
06-12-09 8:32 AM
|
Everyone keeps talking about $250,000. as though it is there and can be used someplace else--it's June, half the year is gone and half of the $250,000. OB hired employees without any thought except the next days Tribune headline--he hired while being in the red over $200,000. per month. Never did he plan beyond the next day's news headline. He cannot take any action on the PMH this year anyway. The Board of PMH trustees would have to take action and right now, they are committed to fulfilling their contractual obligations to those that have booked the hall. The PMH is not a loser--understand that as a "gift" to the citizens of Warren, it was never expected to be a money maker, but one man's idea to enhance the culture and heritage of our city. Every city that has turned around has had the ability to attract people to the arts. It is the educational aspects, the arts, the cleanliness, a variety of jobs, and yes safety of its citizens. It all works hand in hand.
|
|
Business
|
|
|
06-12-09 7:36 AM
|
I can't beieve it, OMG made a comment without blaming something on GM!!!
|
|
OldManGrump2
|
|
|
06-12-09 5:50 AM
|
Enough discussion already, it's time to do the act. Cut the $250,000 and move on. PMH is a loser and has been for oh too long. For once, I agree with Mayor O'B - this supplement from the city has to go bye bye.
|
|
BobCvengros
|
|
|
06-12-09 4:02 AM
|
I must agree with Mayor O'Brien on this issue. Our community cannot afford (in these times) to keep subsidizing PMH. I would not turn over $250,000 at this point in time. Councilwoman Hartman claims that changes can be made "in house", and she has a plan. I would hold everything in "abeyance" until such time as her plan is reviewed, even if it means closing PMH, temporarily. Should Ms. Hartmans plan not be feasible, I would proceed immediatly to Mr. O,Briens plan. This time we should all be throwing our support behind Mr. O'Brien he is correct in the actions he has taken. Besides keeping $250,000 is much better than giving it away with no chance of return.
|
