HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.02.10 WAB Minutes
Virtual Wheeler Board Meeting
Board Meeting Minutes | Wednesday February 10th, 2020 - 3PM
Submitted by Maddy Overton
In Attendance:
Wheeler Opera House Board Members:
Chip Fuller, Chairperson
Nina Gabianelli, Secretary
Christine Benedetti
Richard Stettner
Ziska Childs
Dr. Tom Kurt
Amy MountJoy
Jennifer White, ex-officio, MAA
In Attendance:
Wheeler Opera House / COA Staff
Diane Foster, Assistant City Manager
Nancy Lesley, Interim Wheeler Director
City Council Liaison
Mayor Torre
Ward Hauenstein, alternate
Public
Tony Clancy
Michael Goldberg
Meeting Recorder: Alixandra Feeley
Meeting Host: Hannah Ritter, Shannon Buckner
NOTE: Dialogue has been summarized, video timestamps included for reference
TIME DISCUSSION ACTIONS RESPONSES
o Meeting called to order at 3:04 PM
o Approval of January 13th, 2020 meeting minutes. Approved as sent
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Housekeeping (Chip Fuller)
o Board Suggestions to Wheeler Staff
• FULLER: While it is appropriate for the Board to have friendships and contact with the Wheeler
staff, just be careful when giving suggestions to staff so they’re not confused as direction. Staff
receives direction from the ED; want to respect that chain of command
Executive Director Search Updates (Diane Foster)
o Industry Contacts and the City’s Formal Reference Process
• FOSTER: Thank you for the thoughtful feedback; results and comments seemed fairly aligned.
• FOSTER: Sometimes it’s tempting to call your industry network, people who know our candidates,
Virtual Wheeler Board Meeting
Board Meeting Minutes | Wednesday February 10th, 2020 - 3PM
Submitted by Maddy Overton
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but please refrain from those informal reference checking b/c the City has to follow processes that a
lot of private organizations do not have to follow, and it could put us in a liability situation.
• FULLER: Good to know, thank you.
o Hiring Process Update: How We’re Doing and Where We’re At
• FOSTER: We are 2/3rs through our candidate interviews. We’ve got another full day tomorrow; the
selection committee will meet tomorrow afternoon and come up with a recommendation. I’ll be
talking with the City Manager about that recommendation; I actually just met with the HR Director
to make sure I understood the offer process from the COA perspective; I don’t have an exact
timeframe on that, but I will know the offer timeframe by tomorrow. Reference checks have been
completed. My hope is we’re making an offer in the next few weeks, and even though the Wheeler
is currently closed we’re in a position to bring someone on board as soon as possible. Nancy is
already working on the orientation.
• FOSTER: In my first-hand experience onboarding during COVID, learning processes is especially
difficult. So, we’ll make sure they have time to talk one on one to each of you, all the Wheeler
partners, staff; there’s actually quite a lot to do even before we open. Nancy and I plan on talking to
them even before they are physically here, specifically we’ve got booking for the holidays and Laugh
Fest; Sarah Ott’s expressed that we want to have those on the books and start to work with the new
ED on filling in the calendar.
• FULLER: Thanks, any questions?
• HAUENSTEIN: Does the ED have housing?
• FOSTER: We do have two units earmarked to make available. Offer will include inquiry of
candidate’s housing needs to see if our inventory fits, as well as several opportunities for housing
assistance (mortgage assistance). For this position, we have specifically held on to a couple of City-
owned units.
• FULLER: Anything else for Diane? Thank you, Diane. Let’s got to Interim ED updates with Nancy.
Interim Executive Director’s Updates (Nancy Lesley)
o Board Meeting’s Technical Moderator Updates
• LESLEY: Thank you to Wheeler staff for taking on primary role as Webex Technical Moderator for
this and future board meetings. And thank you to Shannon and Ruth who had been running the City
Board meetings up until now.
o City Council Meeting Updates
Virtual Wheeler Board Meeting
Board Meeting Minutes | Wednesday February 10th, 2020 - 3PM
Submitted by Maddy Overton
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• Projector Project Capital approved and equipment on order
• Rent Relief given to Wheeler tenants through May with possibility of extension based on
construction impacts
• January 2020 Board Ordinance Request, Second Reading approved; takes 30 days to go into effect,
remain under current ordinance through next board meeting. Whether Chip wants an election in
March or April, it would not be seated until April meeting.
• Exterior trim green paint color approved by City Council; we will be ordering new awnings to match.
• Masonry documentary project with Grassroots TV
Two videos approved for production: short “sizzle reel” and longer documentary style video
Hardhat Tours available; please email Chip or Nancy
o Advisory Board Meeting Updates
• Wheeler website now has a page with COVID-related resources and funding assistance
• Shuttered Venues: looking to see if Wheeler would qualify; Wheeler would give that money back
into the Arts Grant program
o State/Pitkin County Site Specific Variances
• 10 locations available
• If Wheeler qualifies and is a good fit, we will apply for a variance
o Staff Entertainment Recommendations
• Please check out the e-blasts and website for entertainment recommendations
If not receiving the e-blast, let Nancy know
o Board Elections: Chairperson, Vice Chair, and Secretary
FULLER: Nancy, you said that we have to have an election either in March or April, correct? Okay, why don’t
we do it in March then – we’ll hold an election over Zoom, for 3 positions, right?
LESLEY: I talked to the City Attorney, his suggestion was to have each board member send an email to both
Diane and I, so we’ll still have two people counting votes and it will remain anonymous. Voting will be the
first thing done during that meeting.
• March Meeting: presentations and election, 1-year term
GABIANELLI: Was Peter, our alternate, replaced?
FULLER: Peter didn’t renew his alternate seat, so interviews are in process and the spot should be filled in
the next month or two
LESLEY: Applications are being taken through the end of day Feb 8th at the Clerk’s office; applicants will be
Virtual Wheeler Board Meeting
Board Meeting Minutes | Wednesday February 10th, 2020 - 3PM
Submitted by Maddy Overton
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interviewed Feb 22nd. The next terms coming up for the board are 2022.
Board Discussion (Chip Fuller)
o Invitation for topics
• No items
o Future Meeting Schedule Review (Chip Fuller)
• March 10th | Regular Meeting
• Board meetings to occur first Wednesday of every month
o Meeting Adjourned at 3:20 PM by Chip Fuller
Motioned by: Chip Fuller