Citing electrical issues, Panida briefly closes main theater

Inspection shows facility can operate safely

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

Following a heated discussion June 4, the Panida Board temporarily closed the theater after Executive Director Heather White brought forward safety concerns related to electrical grounding at the historic facility.

“The Panida temporarily paused performances while the board sought legal guidance and arranged a professional electrical assessment of the facility,” Board Secretary Amy Flint told the Reader on June 10. “We received positive findings from a walkthrough conducted [June 8] with a licensed electrical contractor, and a state electrical inspection on [June 10] confirmed that the main theater can safely resume performances.”

The board moved swiftly to address the concerns after White raised the issue at the June 4 meeting, which was chaired by Board Vice President Charlotte Solly. Board President Sean Behm was out of the country and unable to attend the meeting.

After comments from the public and board housekeeping items like approval of minutes and financial reports, White gave a report that culminated in raised voices and eventual adjournment into executive session.

At the center of White’s report were safety concerns she listed due to electrical issues at the historic theater — issues White said she believed made the theater unsafe for continued operations.

“We’ve had two electrical incidents in the building in two months,” White said. “One where we nearly had a fire and the second where somebody was actually shocked.”

White presented an electrical assessment report she requested from the board on May 27 after the incidents. The report, which included information dating to November 2023, pointed out several issues that needed attention, White said.

“I further asked, as did one of the board members, ‘What actions in this report have been taken?’” White said. “In particular the ones that are noted as short-term critical, and I’ve gotten nothing.” 

Solly then interrupted as White continued to state that none of the issues had been addressed.

“Can I stop this for one minute?” Solly said. “This report is actually part of a survey that was done as a group of surveys with plumbing and electrical…”

“I’m going to need all of those reports, too,” White interjected. “I need all the reports.”

“I would move that we assess this as a board when we have Sean [Behm] here, who has intimate knowledge, being the only member of the board who was actually on the board at the time of that report,” Solly said. “I think it’s unfair that we’re discussing that in this public forum right now. I’m not saying it’s not going to be addressed…”

“I’m concerned about loss of life,” White said.

Solly noted that an electrical survey was scheduled for June 18, but White said that was an infrared test that was “totally different.”

White said she spoke to the engineer who compiled the 2023 report and saw there was an attached estimate for “well over $300,000 worth of repairs that need to be done immediately.”

“What I want noted,” White continued, “[Is] the board president told me on June 1 that, operationally, the executive director carries responsibility for facility maintenance and safety, with the board providing oversight and resource support. … I want it documented that I started this job Nov. 1 and I did not have access to apparently my responsibility until after two electrical incidents in the building which could have caused loss of life.”

White said her communications with the engineer who wrote the 2023 report pointed to an issue with electrical grounding.

“I want it documented that I will not take personal responsibility,” White said. “I will help the board achieve the recommendations, which include a full-on electrical assessment of both buildings, and the same with the safety lighting, which we do not have. When I explained this to the engineer about the near fire on the stage, he said, ‘You don’t even have the legal lights that you need to get out of the building.’”

Solly then attempted to redirect the discussion, though White continued, saying: “I want it documented because when we get sued, that it’s in court that I had no knowledge of this. … This is unacceptable.”

“I don’t think we actually want to go into some of our other details because I have issues which I feel are unacceptable,” Solly said, raising her voice. “These are not appropriate for this meeting right now.”

After some discussion about potential fixes, White noted it didn’t matter what new equipment they installed because the issue is related to electrical grounding.

“It doesn’t matter what we plug in, it will blow or potentially cause a fire,” White said.

“Then I’d say at this point, if you are recommending the Panida is unsafe, we have no options but to close the Panida,” Solly said. “I don’t believe you’re giving us any other options on this, right? If you’re saying the Panida is not a safe building for us to be in, then we have no other option but to close the Panida at the moment as it stands until we have resolved our electrical things. Safety has to be our No. 1 priority. … I don’t feel like you’re giving us any other options on this, right?”

“I think that’s a fantastic recommendation,” White replied.

The board briefly discussed a few other agenda items and adjourned into executive session to discuss the matter. Members of the public and press are not allowed to attend executive sessions.

“This was not the meeting I hoped for, but there we go,” Solly said.

In Flint’s June 10 follow-up to the Reader, she wrote, “Safety is the board’s first priority, so we exercised caution and performed due diligence before reopening the main theater. We want to thank community members for their patience as we navigated this unanticipated challenge.”

For updated event info, visit panida.org.