City council to again tackle theater issue

Lance Martin, Herald Senior Staff Writer

ROANOKE RAPIDS - The Roanoke Rapids Theatre remains an issue for city council to address and is on the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting.

The council will spend Monday morning in Raleigh meeting with attorneys in a closed-door session that begins at 9 a.m. The will receive reports concerning mediation with Randy Parton.

The country music singer was dismissed as the theater's general manager in November, then asked to leave the theater for allegedly being inebriated shortly before he was due to perform on Dec. 6.

He has not been back on the Valley stage since then. Under the terms of his agreement with the city, he was to be paid $250,000 annually whether or not he performed.

Mayor Drewery Beale said Saturday the Monday meeting will focus on the city coming to terms with the singer, for whom the theater was originally named. Attorneys for both parties will discuss matters at the meeting, which will take place at 3600 Glenwood Ave., in Raleigh.

Issues on Tuesday's council agenda include discussion of the Theatre Advisory Committee, discussion of a vacant council seat spawned by the theater issue, the audit report, which touches on the issue, and two public comment requests, one which specifically addresses the theater matter.

City Manager Phyllis Lee said Friday several people have picked up applications for the city council seat vacated by Reggie Baird on Feb. 12.

Baird resigned the same night the city decided to end its letter of intent with UGL Unicco for managing the theater. The company Monday opted to not work for the remainder of the 30-day notice.

Meanwhile, Lee said the city's audit report will show an unqualified opinion, which is the best it can receive.

She said under internal controls, the audit will show that $254,000 of the $3 million in theater was not properly accounted for.

Part of that money was allegedly spent by Parton on liquor and vacations when the theater had his name on it, Lee confirmed.

She said the city agrees the money was not properly accounted for. “We followed the guidelines of the economic development agreement which did not allow us to ask for back-up.”

Now the city can ask for that information, and with the theater under its control, it is being run the same as any department, she said. “They are having to issue purchase orders. It is going through the finance director. We're running it like we would any city department.”

As the city enters its first week running the theater, Lee said the Jerusalem Ridge Band is staying, along with the technical people.

Band leader Steve Dixon and Production Manager Tom Kelly are also staying, Lee said.

Also on Tuesday night's agenda is public comment from Hubert D. Pope concerning the theater.

Pope is one of the people suggested for the advisory committee. Also scheduled to speak is longtime community resident Sarah Adams who plans on discussing city issues.

Council meets at 7 p.m., at Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall.