Plaza Theatre board schedules closed session after director’s firing
The meeting comes about a month after Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse fired Plaza Theatre Executive Director Carolyn Glodfelter, who had led the city-owned theatre since September 2015.
GLASGOW, Ky. — The Plaza Theatre Advisory Board is scheduled to meet Oct. 20 for a special-called meeting with personnel listed as the only substantive item on the agenda.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Casablanca Room at the Plaza Theatre, 115 East St. in Glasgow.
According to the meeting notice, the board expects to enter closed session under Kentucky Revised Statute 61.810(1)(f), which allows certain personnel matters to be discussed outside public view.
The notice does not identify the employee or personnel issue to be discussed.
The meeting comes about a month after Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse fired Plaza Theatre Executive Director Carolyn Glodfelter, who had led the city-owned theatre since September 2015.
In September, Royse told Barrenside the decision was not based on misconduct or a violation of law, but on the city’s desire to take the theatre in a “different direction.”
He cited concerns about the number of shows, promotion and efforts to recruit performers, but offered no further explanation for his decision to fire Glodfelter.
Royse said the city planned to advertise the executive director position and involve advisory board members in the hiring process, potentially through an interview committee.
Although the mayor retains hiring and firing authority, Royse said he wanted the board to help evaluate candidates.
The posted agenda lists personnel as the only item before adjournment.
What the law allows
Kentucky’s Open Meetings Act allows closed-session discussions about hiring, disciplining or dismissing an individual employee, but not general personnel matters.
That means the board could discuss candidates for a new executive director in private, while any final decision must be made in an open meeting.
Under the law, the board must identify in open session the general nature of the business to be discussed and the legal provision authorizing the closed session, then approve a motion to enter it.
The board also cannot take final action during closed session. Any final decision must be made in an open meeting.
