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Council, Gaslight Theater negotiate lease language and fees; agreement deferred for cleanup and return next month
Summary
Councilors and Gaslight Theater representatives discussed a proposed lease renewal that would raise the flat annual rental from $800 to $1,200 (city asked $1,600); the council asked staff to refine language on air-conditioner use, performance fees and scheduling and will return the cleaned-up lease for final action next month.
The Hallowell City Council spent an extended discussion on a proposed renewal of the Gaslight Theater lease, focusing on the flat annual rent, per-performance charges, scheduling and backstage temperature control. City staff and Gaslight representatives debated a proposed flat fee increase and operational provisions before agreeing to revise contract language and return with a clean version next month.
City Manager (City Manager) said the city proposed a flat rental rate of $1,600 but the theater's board countered with $1,200. "I believe the agreement is ... we're asking them to pay $60 per day for performances," the City Manager summarized when discussing per-performance fees; theater representative Richard Bostwick explained the theater typically uses about 128 to 130 days per year for rehearsals and shows and that the 164-day allowance provided a useful cushion.
Council members raised comfort and safety concerns for performers and volunteers. The city manager recommended allowing fans but forbidding window air conditioners; Gaslight theater representatives asked that temporary AC be permitted in exceptional heat. "I would recommend not allowing the installation and removal of AC units in those windows," the city manager said, while others proposed language allowing AC with city-manager approval for heat waves.
Councilor Gaggen questioned raising the flat fee unless the city could show that $800 no longer covered municipal costs, saying, "I'm not in favor of increasing it at all unless I can be shown why we need to." Other councilors said an increase to $1,200 reflected cost pressures the theater faces and recommended compromise language.
Council directed staff to prepare a cleaned-up lease draft that clarifies: the annual flat rate and how extra performance days are charged, whether and when window AC is permitted (including size/duration limits and city-manager authorization), and signage and equipment provisions for police access during events. The council did not adopt the lease at this meeting and deferred final action until the next meeting to allow staff and the theater board to refine the language.
The follow-up is expected to include a redlined clean copy to be reviewed at the next regular council meeting.
