Corvallis fires Majestic Theatre supervisor | Local

Metropolis Manager Mark Shepard verified Jimbo Ivy’s termination on Friday, July 8. Citing private staff matters, he declined to comment about the causes behind the action. 

The information will come on the heels of a group marketing campaign to foyer the town to hire additional staff at the theater.

Ivy was hired to run the Majestic Theatre in February 2015. He’s been on paid out administrative go away for the earlier seven weeks, which includes the height of funds year for the town. 

While town officers aren’t conversing, Ivy shared his standpoint and offered an explanation.

In an job interview with Mid-Valley Media and in a social media write-up, Ivy alleges he was terminated for not subsequent orders from Parks and Recreation Director Meredith Petit. He reported she experienced ordered him not share with the neighborhood any further facts about the theater’s spending budget or endeavours by Majestic Ambassadors — supporters with a variety of connections to the theater, together with volunteers — to get a lot more team.

Petit did not straight away reply to a request for remark Friday afternoon.

“I was not ready to stick to this purchase in fantastic conscience as I feel part of great, clear governing administration is that our neighborhood is aware of what is going on within our city,” Ivy wrote on Facebook, “and that they should really have a likelihood to advocate with conclusion-makers by using the proven community processes prior to selections becoming produced.”

In the publish, Ivy claims he was advised that the Majestic Ambassadors’ marketing campaign — the group was hoping to influence city leaders to develop the price range so that the theater could employ a next total time employee — was “incompatible with the metropolis manager’s vision” and that he really should not share facts about it with the community.

“However, as the newspaper content articles and letters to the editor mounted, many local community users began contacting me, asking what was likely on, and I felt ethically sure to simply direct them to the community’s attempts,” Ivy wrote. “For this, I have been fired.”

Talking by mobile phone, Ivy stated he’s not probably to get any lawful motion with regards to his termination. He acknowledged he disregarded direction from a excellent, which is grounds for dismissal. As a salaried personnel, he’s not secured by a labor union, leaving him minor recourse.

“I’m portion of management, so the assumption is I’ll be in line with administration,” Ivy mentioned. “I imagine it’s circumstances like this the place they are capable to terminate individuals they experience are not in line with management’s eyesight.”

As the theater supervisor, Ivy stated it was his responsibility to keep the community in the loop about any potential impacts to the Majestic. That intended spreading the word that with no extra complete-timers, the theater faces less productions and plans and should offer with burnout and turnover amongst aspect-time employees.

“I’ve accomplished that through my vocation at the Majestic,” he said. “As considerably as local community users, directors, other volunteers, I would on a regular basis have sort of ‘State of the Majestic’ conversations with them. I’d often been incredibly transparent with the neighborhood about the issues and enlisting their enable.”

Ivy told his bosses he was compelled to share the reality about the condition at the theater, he advised Mid-Valley Media. In response, he alleges that they told him, “Don’t be also included, do not assistance also significantly, never give as well considerably facts.”

With Ivy sidelined, the Majestic Ambassadors formed and took the guide on advocacy with the City Council.

Noting that group link was important to passing a levy in 2019 that involved support for the theater, Ivy said he was amazed by the negative feed-back and ire he took from senior leadership for communicating with the community in the way he’s normally finished, specially on a metropolis budget issue.

A phone to action connected in the Majestic’s May well publication could be the straw that broke the camel’s back again. In a transient line, Ivy highlighted the marketing campaign, inquiring the Town Council to present entire-time output guidance.

He alleges he was referred to as “disloyal, insubordinate, and not a staff player” for that.

“It was complicated not becoming ready to connect with my community or crew or employees about what was likely on for seven weeks,” Ivy explained. “If my termination and getting capable to discuss to the neighborhood about it leads to some positive modify for the Majestic, it was value it.”