Lakewood City Hall Auditorium to Receive Audio-Visual Upgrade

Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers revealed a proposal to upgrade the City Hall Auditorium’s audio system and install a built-in video system. The initial bid is at about $150,000, but an updated bid could change that number after the plan is modified.

"We need to get this room into this decade," Summers said in a cleveland.com article. "The old technology is 1980s stuff, probably put in in the early 1990s, and it's breaking."

The new video system plan calls for ceiling mounted cameras, screens and projectors, as well as one large screen that can be lowered in the center of the room and four small LCD monitors. This replaces the current system of a floor-standing screen and portable projector. The city also plans to spend money on new chairs and tables.

“The sound is notoriously bad, even when the technology is working,” said President of Council Sam O’Leary, “and lately there have been cases where the technology is not working.”

O’Leary said that the chairs are not comfortable for either short or long periods of time, and has found it can undermine the importance of a meeting in some cases.

“This really is an important investment,” O’Leary said. “Council is not the only one that uses these facilities.”

He also said that residents should look forward to and anticipate the coming improvements.