The decision to form a committee came on a 3-2 vote, with council members Ed Liverman and Greg Lawson voting against Councilwoman Suetta Scarbrough's motion during tonight's meeting.

Lawson and Liverman believed wording of the motion should be changed so the panel was not to give advice on booking acts the theater.

Opting to scrub a discussion of a avenue trees, the theater discussion fell in that slot on the agenda and Scarbrough made the motion to form the advisory panel.

“The ultimate goal of council is to sell the theater,” she read from a prepared statement, “Therefore freeing up money to provide services to the citizens at a reasonable cost, which is city council's charge to the community.”

The goals of the committee, Scarbrough said, are threefold: To advise council on ways to make the theater more productive through shows financed by prospective producers at reasonable rates; recommend or advise to council on maintaining an agreement with entertainment businesses to continue booking local events and activities to keep the theater open for tours; to recommend or advise council on ways to make the theater more attractive to potential buyers. “This should be done in a manner so as to market the Roanoke Rapids Theatre to national and international markets.”

Liverman wasn't sold. “When we say things in terms of more shows and prospective producers, we're finding ourselves in the theater business.”

The theater, Liverman said, has lost between $75,000 to $76,000 since Lafayette Gatling was ousted from the building last year. “I agree with the committee, I don't agree with them telling us we need more shows.”

Lawson agreed with Liverman. “We have to have money and artist fees. Where is that money coming from?”

Lawson said Taymac, which is currently running the venue, has not been successful. “To have a committee to look at how we sell would be in line.”

Councilman Carl Ferebee countered that even though he wanted to sell the theater, “It still costs us whether we're putting on shows or not.”

Councilman Ernest Bobbitt said there are independent producers who want to do shows at the venue with their own money. “Obviously, the goal is to sell it. We can have other people put on shows to keep it open. If we don't keep it open it will become another dump.”

Liverman said the city knows the theater debt is not going to be paid through shows. “It lost $76,000 in 10 months.”

With the city out of theater reserve fund, Liverman said, “That $1.7 million is on us next year.”

Said Mayor Emery Doughtie, “We have to do something to get rid of this negative infestation”

Bobbitt and Ferebee sided with Scarbrough on the matter.

Meanwhile, a proposal to sell some $58,000 worth of surplus equipment at the theater failed on a 3-2 vote, with Liverman, Ferebee and Bobbitt shooting down Lawson's motion.

The equipment to be sold was taken following an inventory by David Corlew, the manager of the Charlie Daniels Band.

“I'm not comfortable he's an expert,” Liverman said following the meeting.

Doughtie said following the meeting he would like to get the committee started as quickly as possible. He said council must also weigh the agreement it has with Taymac. “It's certainly been a concern and it's been discussed.”