Minor repairs are in the future for the Norgan Theatre in Palmerston, but what might help volunteers most is council’s decision to okay the theatre board’s recommendation to hire a part-time person on a contract to cover administrative duties there.
Recommendations from the town’s parks and recreation committee are to allow the Norgan theatre board to contract submissions to replace the sink and window vent in the janitorial room.
Council also agreed to a request to place $500 in the 2009 budget for upgrades to the heating system. In addition, council approved spending up to $2,000 for a storage bin to be placed at the rear of the building.
When Mayor David Anderson asked for the reason for the bin use, Recreation Director David Stonley said his understanding was the bin would be used to store items used for special events – such as tables and chairs.
He said it could include items that are constantly taken back and forth to the theatre and bins would instead allow those items to remain on site.
“It’s more of a convenience,” he explained.
Councillor Rick Hembly asked for that the bins would not be used to store valuables.
Stonley said in addition to the chairs and tables, storage could include accessories, such as the set of stairs acquired from the high school, coat racks rather than moving the items back and forth.
He said the Norgan seems to hosting special events every few months and it seems to make sense to be able to store those items at the theatre.
But in addition to the funds to be spent to improve the building, funding is now coming for a contracted employee be hired to perform administrative duties. As council started that part of the discussion, Hembly questioned if it should be held in closed session, since it concerned an employee.
Clerk Barb Wilson said the recommendation was worded so no individual was identifiable and discussion was about a position – not an individual.
The contract is to run from Aug. 15 this year to Aug. 14, 2009. Funds of $150 per week would be allocated from the 2008-2009 budget to cover that cost.
Stonley said he supports the concept because he sees it as lending itself to extending the life of the volunteers at the Norgan. He said the role of the administrative staffer is to make the volunteer’s work easier, and, as a result, take advantage of the financial savings created by having volunteer labour provided.
Hembly asked for a description of the duties.
Anderson said the job description includes:
– contact film suppliers for weekend films;
– contact media outlets and movies ratings, dates and times;
– update outdoor signs;
– print film specifications for booth, staff, and projectionist;
– return calls from the answering machine;
– submit, receive, and stock the concession booth;
– clean concession booth and prepare the facility for weekend activity;
– prepare concession booth reports;
– make popcorn on Fridays for the weekend;
– pick-up and drop off of film, trailers, and other promotional items;
– prepare the ticket booth float and coin rolls;
– conduct pre-weekend inspection of the facility
– take bookings and rentals
– provide tours and walkthroughs of the facility;
– co-ordinate resources with volunteer crews; and
– any other duties as assigned.
“Is that all,” quipped Hembly, “I can make the popcorn.” Councillors agreed to all of the recommendations.
