Wednesday, November 26, 2003
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Wednesday, November 26, 2003 |
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Rapson: Boycott imperils former DAPC workers Here is the text of the letter read by Peachtree City Councilman Steve Rapson as chairman of the Tourism Association Board of Directors, after Thursday night’s council meeting was canceled due to lack of a quorum. November 20, 2003 The Tourism Association of Peachtree City is a state-approved Domestic Non-Profit Corporation and can function with or without tax-exempt status. The only limitation placed on the Tourism Association is that it cannot receive or expend hotel/motel tax until the tax-exempt status is granted. City Council created this Tourism Board and it’s operating within its charter. The Tourism Association was created due to the Development Authority terminating its contract to run these venues effective Dec. 1. Two council members have refused to attend any public meetings where the Tourism Association is an agenda item. This appears to us to be political blackmail, pure and simple by Annie McMenamin and Dan Tennant, two council members who are going out of office. The ramifications of their decision are that all of the Tourism Association’s city employees’ and venue employees’ diligent work to make this a smooth transition Dec. 1 is lost. The Tourism Association’s bylaws require a contract with the city to run these venues. Without this contract, these venues become city facilities and the existing 16 Development Authority employees may very well lose their jobs effective Dec. 1, 24 days before Christmas. This political posturing may cause the end of the Ashland Grill and the presence of Clayton State University on the tennis center campus. In our opinion, the refusal of these two council members to attend any public meeting action leaves the City Manager with three options: 1. Shut the amphitheater and the Tennis Center down; 2. Attempt to run the venues with existing city employees the best he can; 3. Call for a city council special called meeting to conduct other necessary city business. The Tourism Association implores these council members to uphold their oath of office and attend any special called meetings to facilitate these contracts and ensure the continuation of these outstanding venues. The Tourism Association is willing to accept the obligation to the Amphitheater and Tennis Center employees, the Amphitheater patrons, the Tennis Center membership and sponsors to ensure a smooth transition of operations. We implore the residents of the city to urge these council members to uphold their elected office and attend a future any special called meeting to address the City’s business. Respectfully, Steve Rapson for the Peachtree City Tourism Association
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