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GIRARD -- City officials are discussing partnering with The Millennial Theatre Company to seek available grant funding for the Wellman Theater on West Liberty Street.
Mayor Mark Zuppo said the city works with a grant writer who said working with the MTC, a 501(c)3 nonprofit group, helps in securing federal and state funding and foundation money for the theater.
"By joining forces with them, that allows us to apply for funding and help us to move forward with getting the theater improved," he said.
Councilwoman-at-Large Lily Martuccio, who chairs the theater committee, said an asbestos evaluation needs to be done at the theater.
Martuccio has said the theater can be "a spotlight for the downtown area," so whatever can be done to improve the building should be explored.
The city owns the historical theater.
Zuppo said he will be traveling with local leaders Sept. 23 and 24 to Washington, D.C., to meet with officials on available funds for various projects.
"We want to meet with and get in front of officials on securing funds for this area,'' he said.
City officials have met with engineers from MS Consultants on the need to address asbestos and roof issues.
Zach Teter, an engineer with MS Consultants, has told council that he and city officials checked the theater building's structure and found asbestos, along with lead, mold and water damage.
He said there also was drainage from the roof into the building.
"These are things that will need to be addressed before moving forward on fixing the building for future use," Teter said.
He said MS Consultants recommends removal of any asbestos first and then making the building "water tight" on the roof.
Treasurer Julie Coggins said there are $150,000 in American Rescue Plan funds available for the theater.
Mayor Mark Zuppo said he was meeting this week with grant writers to see what funds can be found for the building rehabilitation.
FIREFIGHTER HOURS
In other business at Monday's council meeting, Safety / Service Director Sal Ponzio and fire Chief James Petruzzi discussed the difficulty in covering shifts at the fire department. It is recommended that three part-time staff members be allowed to work a maximum of 120 hours per month instead of the current 29 hours per week maximum.
"We want to make sure all of the shifts are filled at the fire department, and this will help," Ponzio said.
Petruzzi said 29 hours per week does not work when 24-hour shifts at the fire department need to be filled.
Legislation was requested for the Sept. 23 meeting to make the changes. Zuppo said because firefighters work 24-hour shifts, it was hard to manage the part timers who were only allowed 29 hours per week. He said some weeks they are needed 36 hours.
Zuppo said Law Director Brian Kren said as long as the part timers are under 120 hours per month, and some will not be working every week, no benefits will need to be paid.