New SOPAC Lease to Erase Debt Takes Next Step

The South Orange Board of Trustees (BOT) introduced a new ordinance Wednesday night that would change the lease agreement between the Village and the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC.)

The agreement, which would be voted on for final approval in June, would make the Village the building's landlord and SOPAC its tenant. The move, which has been in discussion for some time, is intended to erase the performing arts center's debt from its books, making it more attractive to potential grantmakers and private funders.

The proposed new lease can be found on the township's website.

"I would like to express my gratitude to [the trustees] for working assiduously" to introduce the ordinance, said SOPAC Executive Director Mark Packer. "On behalf of the entire organization, we are just deeply grateful."

"It is not feasible or possible...for [SOPAC] to repay that debt,” said Village Administrator Barry R. Lewis, Jr. “This will unshackle them to get more funding. This will allow them to pursue and grow into the facility they ought to be… All in all, it positions SOPAC much better and it positions the Village better because we now fully own the building."

Trustees Sheena Collum and Mark Rosner noted that under normal circumstances they would not have voted for the ordinance at this point because they had only had one day to review the related documents. However, as SOPAC's fiscal year is ending soon and grant application deadlines are approaching, they agreed the move was in SOPAC's and the Village's best interests.

Reached by Patch after the meeting, Collum said that while she was supportive of the move, she questioned the 50-year length of the lease. "I just want to make sure that future boards have the flexibility to be able to review this lease when need be."

South Orange technically owns the SOPAC property, so any SOPAC problems are technically Village problems, said Village President Alex Torpey. 

"It is the [SOPAC board of director’s] goal within the next two to three years that there will be no subsidy from the [Village]," said SOPAC board chairman Anthony Leitner. He added that the lease contains provisions on how SOPAC is to operate the center and if the Village is unsatisfied it has the option to "get the building back" and find another operator. "If we're doing a successful job there will be no reason to change the terms," he said. "The Village really holds all the cards."

The BOT will hold a Regular Conference Agenda meeting on June 10 and a special meeting on June 17 to discuss the SOPAC lease.