Restoration at Risk as New Bedford City Council Defunds Zeiterion

Zeiterion Performing Arts Center CEO Rosemary Gill is annoyed with the New Bedford City Council. Last week, in a marathon budget-cutting session, the council voted 6-5 to reduce the city's annual payment to the "Z" from around $500,000 to zero. That's right, zero. Voting for the cut were Councilors Derek Baptiste, Naomi Carney, Maria Giesta, Brian Gomes, Linda Morad and Shawn Oliver.

In all, the council reduced the city budget by more than $10 million during a seven-hour session.

The City of New Bedford owns the Zeiterion building, and up until now, paid the nonprofit organization that operates the "Z." Speaking this week on Townsquare Sunday, Gill said those payments were contractually negotiated 10 years ago, and if funding is not restored, it could cause great harm.

"I'm here to sound the alarm," Gill said. "Those payments are not a handout. We earned that money because we manage a city-owned building. It's shocking that they brought that line item down to zero."

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Gill said that cut will impact the day-to-day operation of the Zeiterion, as well as the ongoing restoration of the "Z."

"A lot of the capital project we are paying for with loans, and those loans are based on a certain level of income," she said. "With our income diminished, the lenders could pull those loans, and that would mean the restoration would come to a screeching halt."

So what's next for the Zeiterion? Legal action against the city council? Restoration of the funding after a cooling-off period? No one is quite sure, but Gill said she'll be talking with Mayor Jon Mitchell very soon.

In the meantime, Gill is asking supporters of the Zeiterion to phone their city councilor and ask them to support the restoration of the $500,000 cut from the city budget.

On a brighter note, Gill shared that work is continuing on the ceiling of the main auditorium by painters and plasterers. According to Gill, "it really looks great!"

Gill said that as of now, the project is still on track, and she's planning on some "soft opening" events in December before a full-blown opening in January.

If you would like your nonprofit organization featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com.