Hepburn Theater to Gain Probate Office Space in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

OLD SAYBROOK - The moving of several offices will mean additional space for events at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, KHCAC.

It first began when Water Pollution Control Commission, WPCC, Coordinator Stephen Luckett resigned a few months ago.

In order to save money and office space, First Selectman Michael Pace proposed restructuring the WPCC and to have those duties be assigned to an existing town employee.

This resulted in the vacancy of one small office on the upper level of the Old Saybrook Town Hall.

A larger vacancy of a small office and a medium-sized room occurred when the Connecticut River Area Health District moved out of the upper level of the town hall and into a larger space at 302 Main Street, Unit 2.

The move allows the district more space for its employees and space for future employees that could be hired if additional towns decide to join the district which currently consists of Old Saybrook, Clinton, and Deep River.

Pace said the town's probate judge, Roger Goodnow, confirmed the space vacated by Luckett and the health district would meet the court's needs.

This would allow the probate court to move out of its leased space in a commercial building, across the street from town hall, at 251 Main Street.

The town pays a rental fee of $1,000 a month and has a month-by-month agreement with the landlord and a 60-day exit clause.

The recent unanimous decision by Board of Selectmen members means the town could experience savings between $6,000 and $9,000 this year since the court could move out in late May rather than at the end of 2008.

"I always wanted to move Roger into government offices and we looked at the (KHCAC) lower level to avoid rent," Pace said.

The move allows the KHCAC to have additional lower level space, which according to KHCAC Board of Trustees Vice President David Frankel, could mean more space for rehearsals.

The redesign of this space is the primary reason the theater will open around Christmas rather than this summer which was the target date previously envisioned.

Also during the meeting, selectmen heard from Town Attorney Michael Cronin and Attorney David Royston on a proposed draft of the facility operation agreement.

The draft states that the town would pay for the building's utilities and maintenance while the KHCAC Inc., the non-profit organization running the center, would fund advertising, personnel, and be responsible in lining up theatrical groups to use the center.

"For the theater, we looked at the operational piece to take off the government books. The maintenance and building will always be ours," Pace said.

Frankel said a new executive director would be responsible for getting signed contracts with theatrical and dance groups and that the board is waiting to hear back from the final candidate.

While Thomas expressed her concern that the town may have to fund an expensive electric bill if productions require high-voltage lighting, Pace advocated a clause be added to the contract making the town responsible only for utilities used in a "resourceful manner."

Frankel said there will always be a need for fundraising for the center since the cost of tickets alone fails to generate enough income for any theater to operate.