Courtesy / City Theater
A balcony view of the City Theater stage in Biddeford.
January 4, 2021
Biddeford council may resume in-person meetings, would renovate City Theater first
Courtesy / City Theater
The City Theater, whose marquee is shown in this 2016 photo, may become a meeting place for the Biddeford City Council.
By William Hall
Defying the pandemic, the Biddeford City Council could soon begin meeting in person again — and in the process make needed upgrades at a historic building next to City Hall.
Councilors on Tuesday will consider resuming face-to-face meetings at City Theater, a 125-year-old performance hall at 205 Main St. But first, the city would have to invest $25,000 to $45,000 in an improved, COVID-safe ventilation system and new broadcasting equipment.
Like many municipal governments, the council has been meeting remotely during the pandemic. Gathering in council chambers or other city buildings hasn’t been practical because of the need for social distancing.
With nine elected councilors and Mayor Alan Casavant, the Biddeford City Council is one of the largest municipal bodies in Maine, according to City Manager James Bennett. (The Portland City Council, in comparison, has eight councilors and a mayor.) City staff also regularly attend the Biddeford council meetings.
Bennett told Mainebiz that some councilors have expressed interest in face-to-face meetings, but the city doesn’t have enough space for them to gather safely.
“It just wouldn’t work. There are literally no other viable options,” he said.
But City Theater, with a proscenium stage and 500 seats, has plenty of room. Built in 1896 to replace an opera house destroyed by fire, the theater and adjoining City Hall are listed on the National Historic Register.
However, Bennett said a new air exchange system must first be installed, and estimates that will cost $20,000 to $25,000. The city would also need to upgrade systems for broadcasting the meetings, since there would still be no in-person public attendance.
The upgrades could be a boon for City Theater, which has been undergoing renovations for several years. The drama company there canceled stage productions for 2020-2021, although it did stream a holiday show.
The nonprofit had planned to make ventilation improvements at some point because of COVID-19, Bennett said.
“If [the city] is going to use the space, we might as well be the ones making the improvements,” he said.
They could be complete as soon as March, he added.
The Biddeford City Council meets, remotely, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and agenda and information can be found here.
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