White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Theatre: City Wrestles with Public's Right to Know With Negotiation Leverage.

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2003: A spokesman for the Mayor's Office reported to WPCNR last night that the city has not decided whether the fourth organization to apply to run the White Plains Performing Arts Center, scheduled to premier this October at the Cappelli Enterprises City Center, is legally allowed to be considered due to the fact their response to the city's proposal was three weeks late.

George Gretsas said the City Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy, is still reviewing the fairness of accepting the proposal. Because of the question of whether it is legal for the city to consider a Proposal received after "the deadline" for proposals, Mr. Gretsas said he could not release the fourth organization's identity.

Presentation Format Under Review

In a wide-ranging telephone discussion of theatre issues, Gretsas and his Economic Development Director, Paul Wood, said the format of "Presentation Night," presents a conumdrum for the city.

"We're trying to balance the public's right to know with the best interests of the city in view of once we select one operator, we are going to have to negotiate with that operator on terms," Gretsas explained. He pointed out that if each presenter were to see the other's presentation and specifics, the competitor's could adjust their proposals to appear more attractive to the Common Council which, Gretsas said will make the choice of who manages the new theatre.

Shroud of Executive Session

Professional Facilities Management of Providence, Rhode Island, White Plains' new Centerpoint Stage lead by Jonathan Mann, and Westco Productions under the direction of Susan Katz are scheduled to make presentations to the Common Council next Monday at 6 PM, May 19. Gretsas hinted that the presentations may be made in Executive Session.

The situations in which the Common Council is legally permitted to shroud the public's business in Executive Session are 1.)Discussions of the Sale of Land; 2.) Discussion of Legal Matters with Counsel, and 3.) Matters involving Personal, i.e., union negotiations, etc. There are several options open.

There are several possibilities that could be considered: 1.) The fine line of justifying an impresario's credentials and preserving the city's and that impresario's negotiating positions could be balanced by having credentials and plans presented publicly and the financial details and arrangements presented privately. 2.) The city could keep the entire process open and accept sealed bids, based on demanding a "best offer." Obviously, the Mayor's Office concerns on negotiation leverage, as well as being fair to all presenters are well founded.

Waiting Tables Until You Get a Part.

The process is unusual in that the theatre has no budget in place because the endowment for the theatre has not been raised.

Two organizations, Centerpoint Stage and Westco Productions have said they are in position to launch fundraising efforts. How such operator-generated fundraising would be executed by the two organizations obviously would have to be part of negotiations. Professional Facilities Management told WPCNR they were not a fundraising organization and would handle the programming based on the budget of the White Plains Performaing Arts Center.

The Community-Corporate Relationship Piece.

Another piece that has to be considered is the procedural role the two citizen committees structured in Duncan Webb's original plan on how the theatre would be managed. One citizens' committee is envisioned as a fund-raising group of businesses and citizens. The other committee oversees the production content. This raises questions of management.

For example, in deciding the programming of the theatre who has the veto power? Who decides the distribution of dates? How profitable does the "non-profit" theatre have to be to avoid subsidies by the city? Where will the "Angel Money" come from for the programming needed to be in place within five months to pay the theatre's first performers (if they are commercial acts).

Calling All Angels. Calling All Angels.

The Mayor's Office says that no corporate angels are actively being sought at this time to bankroll the theatre's start-up. However, there are deep pockets with a susbtantial stake in the city who could be readily solicited as the theatre's "angels:" Fortunoff's, Cappelli Enterprises, Mills Properties, Target, Circuit City, Gannett, Cablevision, Pepsi, Westin Hotels, Marriott, Legal Seafood, LCOR, the Clayton Park owners, are all all players in town with deep pockets. Some of the city's exemplary corporate citizens can be expected to want to "be a part of it." Heineken USA, Merrill Lynch, Prudential Financial, Combe, Inc., Entergy, Washington Mutual, Morgan Chase, and the new bank in town taking over the Sea Star. There are also a number of other sources in the city for funds: the universities -- Pace, Berkeley College, Mercy College, SUNY, Westchester County Community College who could expect to use the Performing Arts Center. That's 24 sources. If each contributed $500,000 that would give the theatre a $12 Million endowment, if each contributed $1,000,000, a $24 Million endowment results.

Gretsas said a decision of the Council was expected to be reached shortly after May 19, in order that the Common Council could vote on and approve the operator at the Common Council meeting of June 2.


Create an account		The White Plains Daily Internet Newspaper...Founded 2000 A.D....


			Designed and hosted by WestchesterInternet.com