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Articles
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| City extends market manager’s contract despite concerns from board |
VOICE writes, "BY BEN WEINSTEIN
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The city recently extended its lease with Eastern Market Ventures to run market operations for an additional six months. But opponents of the move criticized both the city’s process and the appropriateness of increasing payments to an organization accused of neglecting its managerial duties.
The Office of Property Management inked amendments to Eastern Market Ventures’ lease, which was set to expire in December. Under the new agreement, the management firm’s term expires next June with an option to add another six months.
The extension agreement amends management duties to include overseeing the temporary structure, or “East Hall,” and includes a requirement for onsite management presence on weekends, among other duties related to displaced South Hall merchants. The manager’s fee increased by about $95,000 per year, according to the contract. "
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“It’s generally agreed that the management we have right now is not adequate,” said Ellen Opper-Weiner, mayoral representative on the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC). She added that the property office’s move effectively rewards Eastern Market Ventures despite its poor performance.
Opper-Weiner is joined by other advisory committee members in criticizing the property office for making the agreement without consulting or properly notifying the committee. “We’re supposed to be advisory,” Opper-Weiner said of the committee’s role, as granted by the District.
“The city went ahead without consulting the EMCAC,” said Barbara Eck, the panel’s Capitol Hill Restoration Society representative. She added that the property office ignored the advisory committee but is legally bound to consult with the panel.
Advisory committee Vice Chair Chuck Burger agreed, calling the city’s failure to consult with the panel about its substantial changes to the lease a “major concern.” He said that if the property office consulted with the committee, it would have avoided “blatant errors” in the agreement, including a provision saying the East Hall is not subject to the Eastern Market Act, which established the advisory committee.
“We think this is a perfect example” of the city not following proper procedure on market issues, Burger said.
Both Burger and Eck declined to comment on Eastern Market Ventures’ performance. But Eck said she will give the property office the “benefit of the doubt” and put its haste down to the “interest of getting things moving.”
Property Office spokesman Bill Rice said the act will be applied to East Hall operations.
Stacey Norris, the property office’s acting coordinator for Eastern Market, said Director Lars Etzkorn apologized for not consulting the advisory committee about the lease extension, saying the group should have been part of the discussion.
Norris also said the property office increased fee for the market manager because of its increased responsibilities with the East Hall. She also said the agency took into account comments concerning Eastern
Market Ventures’ performance.
“We definitely did consider all the comments from the public, EMCAC and elected officials,” Norris said, adding that the extension is an interim solution and that the agency wanted to ensure a smooth transition into the temporary building.
Eastern Market Ventures has managed the market for about six years. It’s charged with overseeing operations of the South Hall, Center Hall, rear alley, Farmers’ Line and now the temporary structure on the Lemon G. Hine Junior High School lot. The North Hall is subleased to the Market 5 Gallery.
Besides managing merchants and vendor space, Eastern Market Ventures’ duties include providing trash-collection services, minor repairs, electric and gas services, heat, water and air conditioning. It is also required to help coordinate events on its premises.
With its East Hall oversight, Eastern Market Ventures must now provide an onsite representative with “decision-making authority” at least four hours per day on weekends.
Manager Bryan Cook said Eastern Market Ventures has actively managed the market for six years, whether or not a representative was on site.
Vendors have criticized Eastern Market Ventures for a lack of presence and responsiveness, and others have said the organization has not done enough to promote the market.
This summer, Cook responded to questions about Eastern Market Ventures’ management by saying the market was operating at a deficit because merchant rents were suspended and more money was going out than was coming in.
This summer, the property office asked for advisory committee input on a new request for proposal for a unified market manager — to oversee both halls.
“You have to want to lead and care about this market,” Opper-Weiner said.
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Posted on Dec 14, 2007 17:46pm.
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