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ROANOKE RAPIDS - Plans for an advisory committee to oversee the operation of The Roanoke Rapids Theatre were derailed, at least temporarily, during a city council work session Tuesday night.
Additionally, council members gave City Manager Phyllis Lee a vote of confidence and a raise, and outlined the next steps in the revitalization of Roanoke Avenue.
In a surprise move, Councilman Ernest Bobbitt made a motion to postpone forming the theater committee until the city completes its contract with UGL Unicco, the company currently managing the multi-million dollar entertainment venue.
UGL Unicco has been managing the theater under a letter of intent since November.
Councilman Reggie Baird supported Bobbitt's motion, saying, “I second that. I think we need to figure out who's going to run the theater first.”
The idea of the committee to be made up of city residents appointed by the council was first proposed by Councilman Jon Baker.
Tuesday night, Baker and Councilman Carl Ferebee said they wanted to proceed with planning the committee.
“I don't see where doing one will impede the work flow of the other,” said Baker.
Bobbitt, Baird and Councilman Ed Deese voted to table the matter, while Baker and Ferebee voted against the motion.
This morning, Baker told the Daily Herald he was not satisfied with the decision. “It was just a maneuver to thwart the taxpayers from having a voice in the operation of their theater,” he said.
“If the others on council are serious about forming a theater advisory committee, why wait? In order for the committee to be useful and effective, it needs to be functioning before key decisions are made, not after.
“It's like watching a house burn to the ground and then calling the fire department. What's the point?”
The council did discuss the Unicco contract during its closed session Tuesday. Mayor Drewery Beale said the city hoped to present a contract to Unicco quickly and again promised the public would have at least three days to look over the contract before a final vote.
Other action:
The council approved a performance review of Lee. The review includes a 5-percent pay raise, bringing her annual salary to $91,704; a 5 percent performance bonus; and an increase in her car allowance from $300 per month to $385 per month.
A written statement from Beale said that Lee's evaluation was based on “the accomplishment of goals and objectives including the development and implementation of the city's annual operating and capital budgets, management of the various departments of the city, management of human resources issues and management of the city's fiscal and financial affairs.
“After a lengthy review, city council determined that Lee had met and exceeded these goals and objectives.”
The council discussed Roanoke Avenue revitalization plans. Beale said he has told the Halifax County Arts Council he would like to see the organization become more involved in the beautification of the city.
Beale also announced that Rodney Swink, who is employed with the North Carolina Main Street Program and has been involved in downtown redevelopment in various cities, will be here for a public meeting at 10 a.m., Feb. 26, in the board room.
Beale added that he has talked to landscape architects who can take photos of the Avenue and enhance them to show what the street would look like with whatever plans are made - “Whether it's all the trees, none of the trees, every other tree - whatever the council chooses.” The landscape architects are currently working with the Canal Commission, Beale said, and the city is waiting to find out the price of the conceptual photos.
A team from N.C. State University has studied the street and given a proposal, but the city has not acted on it, Beale added.
Public Works Director Richard Parnell noted that the city could apply for an Urban Forestry grant to help fund the project.
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