Commission Holds Off On BPAC Budget Approval

With the resignation of Burnsville Performing Arts Center executive director Jon Elbaum in August, a nationwide search is underway to find a replacement. BPAC commission members hope local candidates will rise to the top of the resume pile — not only because the person will have a feel for the community and its tastes, but the city won’t bear any relocation costs.

The city’s contractual obligation came as a surprise to Mark Pevan, vice chairman of the commission. During a Sept. 7 BPAC commission meeting, he questioned why this wasn’t reflected as a specific budget line-item in the proposed 2012 BPAC budget. The evening’s agenda called for approval of the budget and the 2012 work plan. However, questions about the relocation costs and some discrepancies in the proposed budget numbers were cause to postpone approval until the October meeting. Pevan said that if relocation costs need to be paid, that it “could skew the budget numbers.”

A new executive director could be on board by mid-October, and “If we have an offer, we’re better off to wait to have accurate numbers. It doesn’t do any good to do something tonight that might change in three weeks," said Commission Chairman Sal Mondelli.

VenuWorks is contracted by the City of Burnsville to oversee operations of the publicly owned facility. However, the hiring process is not public, but the city has a contractual veto right over selection of the executive director, according to Deputy City Manager Tom Hansen. Because it is a private company, salary and benefit details cannot be disclosed, he said.

While the city paid no relocation costs when Elbaum was hired, “The city is contractually required to pay reasonable relocation costs,” Hansen stated in an e-mail response to questions regarding the executive director position.  He said the city incurred $1,523 in recruitment costs for Elbaum.

Tammy Koolbeck, the center’s acting executive director, said VenuWorks’ search is “going well,” and there is a pool of local candidates.

More transparency

Beginning in 2012, BPAC meetings will move to city hall, and they will be televised.

“We’re ready for prime time.” said Council Member Dan Gustafson, during the Burnsville City Council work session Sept. 13. He serves as the city liaison to the commission, and said the new commission will have had a year under its belt and “glad they had the time to get things going.”

Council member Mary Sherry said the move will create greater transparency regarding the operations and decision-making that goes into the running of the city-owned center that has had its share of controversy.