by Jay Lawson
The Town of Webb Board met for an Audit of Claims meeting on Mon-day, October 5, where it heard two presentations relevant to its ongoing budget discussions for 2016.
VIEW was represented by Executive Director Jennifer Potter Hayes and Board President Chris Gaige.
They spoke about the need for Town of Webb support of their arts center operation in Old Forge.
Hayes also described what she characterized as erratic support for VIEW by the Webb in its 2015 budget.
She said historic funding from the town had not found its way to VIEW yet in 2015.
Supervisor Ted Riehle said part of the reason was confusion on the part of both VIEW and the Town of Webb Board.
He that ever since he took office, the Town of Webb budget included a line item for “Kinderwood/Arts Center.”
This caused funding to be distributed in a manner inconsistent with historic practice, he said.
“Kinderwood and View are totally separate non-profits,” Hayes said.
Councilwoman Mary Brophy-Moore said that in response, View would be given its own budget line in 2016.
This would continue yearly into the future, she said.
The combined amount for View and Kinderwood had been $6,750 with $2,000 going to Kinderwood as a Webb match of Kinderwood’s rent payment.
That left $4,750 for View, which was applied toward its operating budget, according to Hayes.
But this year, View has yet to receive a check, she said.
Councilwoman Kate Russell said that the full board would meet and discuss a fair amount of 2015 funding support for View.
She expected that decision to be finalized late this week.
As for 2016 funding, Hayes said she hoped the Town Board would consider an increase to $10,000.
That would be consistent with town support of other local non-profits, she said.
Hayes said View has a large monthly debt-load that it has been aggressively attacking.
“This year we set up a strategic funding committee—a really good, strong committee,” she said.
Included are members with expertise in banking and finance and public funding, she said.
“And we’ve met with elected officials of every level of government,” she said.
Federal officials have communicated an understanding of the art center’s need and a willingness to come through with support, Hayes said.
“[Our] committee…is very confident that we will be successful in getting help with our debt,” she said.
However, that part of the equation does not involve the Town of Webb, according to Hayes.
“We’re not asking you to help us with our debt,” she said.
Rather, the support View has been seeking from the town for years amounts to a financial testament to View’s role in the community.
The monies themselves go toward the operating budget, a significant part of which is payroll, Hayes said.
“We have 11 employees—six full-time, five are part-time. All are year-round jobs,” she said.
“In the summer we have seven full-time interns. We pay them a stipend and give them housing.”
Views annual budget is nearly $800,000, Hayes said.
“We are 64 years old. This is our fifth year in our new building. We are the largest arts organization in the Adirondack Park,” she said.
“We are committed to being open year-round, because we want to serve the local community.”
Many of the center’s winter programs are designed with the local community in mind, Hayes said.
“We had a really strong year this year on most fronts. We tried some new things. We had a three-day music festival that brought some incredible musicians here. The watercolor show has been one of the best we’ve put up in recent years,” she said.
Hayes said many visitors viewed the show prior to its closing last weekend, including art teachers and their classes from across New York state.
Proctor High School rode the train to Old Forge to see the show and ride the McCauley chairlift, she said.
“They made a day of it, and they came because View is here,” she said.
“We [also] talked to people from Kansas City, Oklahoma, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsyvania, [who] came specifically to see that watercolor show before it went down,” Hayes said.
Another proud achievement was securing and presenting a dance program by Suzanne Farrell and her students.
“This is a person who is known around the world, and she’s right in our backyard. We finally convinced her to come to View, and it was a sold-out performance. And she has agreed to come back next year,” Hayes said.
About forty thousand people visit View each year, Hayes said.
Attendance-wise, View has continued to edge closer to the Adirondack Museum, which reports its participation at just under sixty thousand, she said.
And this translates into regional revenue, according to Hayes.
“We estimate the annual economic impact of View on the Town of Webb at about $3 million,” she said.
This includes dollars spent by View visitors at local shops, restaurants and lodging establishments.
“That’s a big impact for a little arts center to have on a region… That’s something to think about,” Hayes said.
“[Additionally] we serve as a community center. We do a lot of programming for the Town of Webb schools, for the children in this area, for families in the area.
We’re a meeting place and a gathering place for this region. And we can serve as an emergency facility [if ever needed],” she said.
“View has really transformed, and we are a driving force in this community,” Hayes said.
And support from the town helps prevent difficult staffing sacrifices and programming cuts.
Councilwoman Mary Brophy-Moore told Hayes that the Town Board has yet to deliberate the 2016 budget.
“None of it’s finalized at all,” she said.
“We have a lot of work left to do,” said Supervisor Ted Riehle.
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Nick Bankert also spoke to the Town of Webb Board, urging them to budget funds for a future multi-purpose, multi-seasonal, roofed facility that could include a winter skating rink.
He said that a covered ice rink would allow for many extra days of use with conditions for more enjoyable skating.
He said this would benefit local residents and visitors alike.
He said that occasionally snowmobilers and skiers arrive when conditions are less than favorable.
A roof covering would ensure ice quality even with rain and warm temperatures, Bankert said.
“It would give them another enjoyable option,” he said.
Bankert said that he and others would gladly help with an effort to find a suitable location and determine a proper structure.
The Central Adirondack Associaton has also talked about contributing toward the cost, he said.
Supervisor Ted Riehle responded to Bankert’s request.
“We have an opportunity to put something in motion.
My though has always been that the [North Street] pavilion was designed for an additon off the back.
It could be an open air metal roof extended another 75 feet,” Riehle said.
Councilwoman Kate Russell said she is willing to examine any of Webb’s existing, under-utilized facilities for enhanced usage.
She said she preferred that approach to spending on a new facility.
Councilman J.B. Herron said the town also has to be mindful of the state’s tax cap requirement.
“This is going to be a tough year [for budgeting],” he said.
Bankert pointed out that investments have already been made in the form of boards and a Zamboni.
“We have budget meeting coming up, and we will consider it,” said Supervisor Riehle.