Plain City Council is working to determine how it can support local organizations and events without choosing favorites.
Organizers of Rock the Clock and the Plain City Farmers Market recently asked council to support their events.
Though council members expressed interest in doing so, at their most recent work session they were unsure of how they could legally – and fairly – assist certain events.
Mayor Jody Carney said the village has historically paid for the stage that is used for performances at Rock the Clock.
She said she has talked with event organizer Tim Dawson about the village expanding their involvement to “partner” with Rock the Clock by sponsoring the stage and officers.
Fiscal Officer Renee Sonnett said the village most recently paid approximately $1,800 to rent the stage in 2019, as the event was canceled in 2020. Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said it was considered an “in-kind sponsorship.”
However, Police Chief Dale McKee said special duty officers were paid for by event organizers or sponsors. If the village chose to partner with Rock the Clock, McKee said the overtime pay for officers would come out of the PCPD budget.
Several council members said they had concerns regarding the proposed partnership.
“We’re kind of skating on a very thin edge doing this,” said Council President John Rucker.
He said he would take issue with the village teaming up with any business or for-profit endeavor.
Carney said she believes Rock the Clock is affiliated with a non-profit, but is unsure of how the funds raised are used.
Even if the partnership benefits a non-profit, Council member Frank Reed said it raises an issue of fairness.
He said there are other non-profit events, such as Steam Threshers, that benefit the community and could be worthy of a village partnership. Council member Shannon Pine also mentioned the Uptown Plain City Organization (UPCO) annual car show.
Rucker said “this is where that slippery slope comes into play.”
“We did it for this, why aren’t we doing it for that?” he asked.
Parks and Recreation Director Linda Granger also warned council that partnerships often entail more than they may seem on the surface.
“We’re pretty thinly staffed and it often times morphs into a lot more work than we can necessarily provide at this moment,” she said.
Staffing concerns were also at the center of council’s discussion regarding the Plain City Farmers’ Market.
Carney said the market was previously managed by UPCO, which collected the vendor fees. She asked if the village would be willing to assume oversight of the event, as the market manager stepped down from that role.
Pine, who is also a member of UPCO, said the organization would “still do outreach and try to get volunteers.”
Carney agreed, adding that a regular vendor would likely serve as the point of contact while the village would handle the “clerical side” of operations and collect fees.
Rucker said he still felt uncomfortable with the partnership because it excludes other events that may benefit from village assistance.
“At its core, if we’re partnering with one non-profit to do something we have to partner with the others as well,” he said.
Rucker added, “I honestly don’t think, legally, if we tell Tim no (to Rock the Clock) then we could tell UPCO yes.”
Carney said work with the Farmers’ Market differs from a partnership with Rock the Clock because “if the village takes this over, it would be out of UPCO’s hands completely.”
Rucker and Pine agreed that the village completely assuming responsibilities would pose less complications or potential legal issues than a partnership.
“I’d be in favor of the village taking it over and if UPCO is ever in the position to take it back, great,” Pine said.
“Can you hear the sound of me weeping?” Granger responded.
She added that “the organizational part is the devil in the details.”
Pine emphasized that she felt the village would need a list of responsibilities from UPCO to evaluate what staff involvement the Farmers’ Market would warrant.
“We’re in favor of it if it’s not a strain on our staff,” she added.
During council’s most recent meeting, Village Solicitor Paul Lafayette said supporting local organizations or events “can be permissible” but Plain City would need to have a definitive policy in place.
“We can do it but we want to make sure we give equal opportunity and are fair to all residents and entities involved,” he explained.
Lafayette said he would research the legality of it and provide council members with options before moving forward.