LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE GROUP CAN’T AGREE

LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE LEADERS AND MEMBERS COULD NOT RESOLVE AN ONGOING DISPUTE OVER THE SIZE AND COST OF A NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER DURING THEIR MONDAY MEETING.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THE FIFTY OR SO MEMBERS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE OVER JUST HOW BIG THE NEW FACILITY ON DEARBORN STREET SHOULD BE.  THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT SIDES; ONE SAYS THE PLANNED 37,000 SQUARE-FOOT, 300-SEAT PLAYHOUSE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO OFFSET THE NEED FOR LARGER AUDIENCES; THE OTHER SAYS THE PROJECT WILL DRAIN PLAYHOUSE COFFERS AND PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS ALTOGETHER.  THE BOARD DID AGREE THAT IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT $12.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED, BUT THAT’S WHERE THE AGREEING ENDED.  THE THREE HOUR MEETING SAW BOARD MEMBER SQUABBLE WITH EACH OTHER OVER ISSUES SUCH AS STAFF HIRING, SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC, AND THE RECENT DISMISSAL OF FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR JIM HANUSHEK.  HIS WIFE ANN THEN RESIGNED FROM HER POSITION AS BUSINESS MANAGER.  THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MOVED TO HIRE A LAWYER OR MEDIATOR TO HELP SETTLE THEIR DISPUTES, BUT THE OTHER THREE MEMBERS KILLED THE IDEA IN A TIE VOTE.  SEVERAL MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED THAT POTENTIAL DONORS TO THE THEATER WOULD HOLD BACK DONATIONS BECAUSE OF THE DISPUTES.  THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD MONDAY, OCTOBER 18^TH AT 6PM.