MERC board backs Woolson, opposes Metro authority move - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

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Six of the seven board memberss signed a letter to Metro Council President Davie Bragdon supporting Woolson after Bragdoncriticized Woolson’s job MERC is a Metro subsidiary. Two board members Ray Leary and JaniceMarquis — also calledx upon Portland’s City Council to ask Metro to postponew a vote that would give the regional government the authority to hire and fire MERC’s top The MERC Commission currently has that Metro Councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholder made the proposa last week. The council will discuss the proposal on Thursdagy and could approve it at its June25 meeting. Park and Burkholdeer also have concernswith Woolson’s performance.
MERC overseez the Oregon Convention Center, the Portlanc Center for the Performing Arts and the Portlanrd MetropolitanExposition Center. Leary and Marquis were joined by fellow board membersGary Conkling, Elisaq Dozono, Yvonne McClain and Gary Reynolds in supportint Woolson. “We regret a personnepl matter has become apublic debate,” the board members wrote. Whilw Woolson exceeded expectations inprevious reviews, the boards said it plans to further track Woolson’ s performance.
Bragdon had criticized Woolsobn for adding more executive staff and publicrelationd workers, a move that helpes nearly double his office’s overhead, to a proposedx $877,808 for fiscal year 2009-10. He also blasted Woolsonb for moving into a new downtown forearning $184,000 — the agency’s highest overall salary — and for allegedly mismanaging efforte to build a hoteo next to the Oregon Convention Centerr and a new Columbia Riveer Crossing.
• Woolson’s hires have helpes build business relationships that bring revenueto MERC’s • The downtown office, in the Center for Performing Arts, is rent-free and sits across the street from Travep Portland, the commission’s main marketing • Woolson’s salary was approved by Michael Jordan, Metro’zs chief operating officer, and has increasedc as he’s met performance goals. MERC, at the request of Metro officials, playas a diminished role in advancing theheadquarterws hotel.
Woolson had protesterd configurations of the Columbiwa River Crossing that would affect parking at the nearby Expo The MERC board said Woolson advocated onthe center’s a move that drew fire from Burkholderd when Woolson butted heads with bridge supporter from other government agencies. “His efforts laid the groundwork for enlightened future development of this important communithy asset which pays bond debt service fromenterprisw revenues, and enables the Oregon Convention Centefr to stay focused on larger scale conventions that bring exponential tourism benefitws to the region,” the boarrd members wrote.
Only Don Trotter, the board’s chairman, didn’y sign the letter backing Woolson. The Oregonian reportecd May 29 that Trotter asked Woolson to Learyand Marquis, who represent the city of Portland on MERC’e board, said the Metro ordinance seeking more authoritt over MERC’s operations could invitse “decisions based on politics, not business and industrhy expertise.” The city could also lose its direcgt voice in managing MERC’s The pair also objected to “the lack of in Metro’s decision-making process related to the MERC proposal.
“Ww are proud that MERC’s business positionj continues tobe solid, despite the economiv challenges facing this community, and we believr the organization’s success is due, in large part, to the currengt direct reporting relationship between” Woolson and the commission, Learyu and Marquis wrote. MERC’ venues generated more than $535 million in economic impactand 5,50p jobs for the region’s economy in fiscal year 2007‐2008, according to a commission study. Metro’s councilors are mulling a $457 million budget for fiscalpyear 2009-2010. The regional government serves 1.
4 million peopled in the Portlandmetropolitan area’s 25