Raymond Theatre Manager Anne Steele presented the Raymond City Council with a letter of resignation on April 17. City and theatre officials indicated they would use the changeover as an opportunity to reconfigure the position with an eye toward hopefully making the cash-strapped theatre financially self-sufficient.
Steele indicated she will remain in the position until June 1 and that she desires to be able to provide training for whomever is selected as her replacement.
Theatre Advisory Committee Member Tony Nordin told the council that the committee hopes to be able to find two or three qualified candidates to present to the council for approval.
The theatre manager is currently a contract position rather than a city employee, though Nordin indicated that the advisory committee thinks all aspects of the job should be examined with a view toward possible change.
"We're looking at this as an opportunity to revamp the entire way that the theatre is operating in terms of revenues versus expenditures," said Nordin.
"I think," Nordin added, "everyone's come to the conclusion after years of the theatre losing money that ... it basically cannot pay for itself in terms of revenue the way it's operating right now. We're going to try to put together something that will increase revenue and decrease overhead."
There was general agreement among the council that posting the job opening should be postponed until a better description of what the theatre manager position may look like going forward can be determined.
"We're just going to table that for now until we get some more information from the advisory group and then the full council can meet and discuss," said newly appointed Mayor Steve Jones.
Also on April 17, Steele reported to the council that the original armatures on the theatre's doors have now been restored and reinstalled. The council also voted to pass an interfund loan to assist with repair work on the theatre's roof.