STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The Plaza Theatre Advisory Board will hold a special-called meeting Oct. 20 with personnel as its only agenda item, according to the meeting notice. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Casablanca Room at the theater, 115 E. Main St. in Glasgow.
The notice stated the board expects to enter a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f). It does not identify the employee or personnel issue to be discussed, or specify any action the board expects to take.
In September, Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse fired Plaza Theatre Executive Director Carolyn Glodfelter. She had led the city-owned theater since September 2015.
At a Sept. 16 special-called advisory board meeting, Royse reiterated that the dismissal was not based on misconduct or any violation of law. He said then that he thought the theater needed new leadership.
Ben Rascoe, the theater’s technical director, was appointed interim director until a full-time director can be hired.
Royse said the city planned to advertise the executive director position and involve advisory board members in evaluating candidates, potentially through an interview committee. The mayor retains hiring and firing authority.
The Oct. 20 notice does not explicitly connect the personnel discussion to that search. It cites KRS 61.823 as the authority for the special meeting notice.
The Kentucky Open Meetings Act allows closed-session for personnel discussions related to hiring, disciplining or dismissing an individual employee, but not general personnel matters.
That means the advisory board can discuss candidates for the executive director position in a closed session, but the final decision on who to hire must be done in an open meeting.
The board cannot make a final decision during a closed session. It must return to open session to conduct a vote.
Key Facts:
– The Plaza Theatre Advisory Board meets Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
– The location is the Casablanca Room, 115 East St., Glasgow.
– Personnel is the only listed agenda item.
– The notice says a closed session is expected.
– Technical director Ben Rascoe was appointed interim director.
What’s Next:
The board is scheduled to take up the personnel item Oct. 20. The notice does not announce a hiring decision or provide a timeline for selecting a permanent executive director.
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