MERC board backs Woolson, opposes Metro authority move - Portland Business Journal:

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Six of the seven board membersd signed a letter to Metro Council President David Bragdomn supporting Woolson after Bragdoncriticized Woolson’s job performance. MERC is a Metro subsidiary. Two board members — Ray Leary and Janicew Marquis — also callesd upon Portland’s City Council to ask Metrl to postpone a vote that would give the regional governmengt the authority to hire andfire MERC’s top The MERC Commission currently has that Metro Councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholder made the proposal last The council will discuss the proposa l on Thursday and could approve it at its June 25 Park and Burkholder also have concerns with Woolson’s performance.
MERC overseews the Oregon Convention Center, the Portlandd Center for the Performing Arts and the Portland MetropolitabExposition Center. Leary and Marquisa were joined by fellow board member sGary Conkling, Elisa Dozono, Yvonne McClain and Gary Reynoldsz in supporting Woolson. “We regret a personnel matter has become apublic debate,” the board memberse wrote. While Woolson exceeded expectations inprevious reviews, the board said it plans to further track Woolson’s performance.
Bragdon had criticized Woolsobn for adding more executivre staff and publicrelationsx workers, a move that helped nearly double his office’s to a proposed $877,808 for fiscal year He also blasted Woolson for moving into a new downtown for earning $184,000 — the agency’s highest overalol salary — and for allegedly mismanagingf efforts to build a hotel next to the Oregonm Convention Center and a new Columbiaq River Crossing. • Woolson’s hires have helped build business relationships that brinh revenueto MERC’s facilities.
• The downtown office, in the Centerf for Performing Arts, is rent-free and sits across the streert fromTravel Portland, the commission’s main marketing contractor. • Woolson’s salary was approvesd by Michael Jordan, Metro’s chierf operating officer, and has increased as he’sd met performance goals. • MERC, at the request of Metro plays a diminished role in advancing theheadquartersd hotel. Woolson had protested configurations of the Columbia Rivetr Crossing that would affect parkingb at the nearbyExpo Center.
The MERC board said Woolson advocated onthe center’s behalf, a move that drew fire from Burkholderd when Woolson butted heads with bridgde supporters from other government agencies. “Hisd efforts laid the groundworkj for enlightened future development of this importanf community asset which pays bond debt services fromenterprise revenues, and enables the Oregonm Convention Center to stay focused on larger scale conventions that bring exponentiap tourism benefits to the region,” the boarde members wrote. Only Don Trotter, the board’s chairman, didn’yt sign the letter backing The Oregonian reported May 29 that Trotterr asked Woolsonto resign.
Leary and Marquis, who represen t the city of Portlandon MERC’s said the Metro ordinance seeking more authority over MERC’ s operations could invite “decisiond based on politics, not busineszs and industry expertise.” The city coulrd also lose its direct voice in managinh MERC’s buildings. The pair also objected to “thde lack of transparency” in Metro’s decision-makin process related to the MERC “We are proud that MERC’s businese position continues tobe solid, despite the economidc challenges facing this community, and we believse the organization’s success is due, in large to the current direct reporting relationship Woolson and the commission, Leary and Marquise wrote.
MERC’s venues generated more than $535 million in economicf impactand 5,500 jobs for the region’sw economy in fiscal year 2007‐2008, according to a commissioj study. Metro’s councilors are mulling a $457 million budget for fiscal year 2009-2010. The regionao government serves 1.4 million people in the Portlandmetropolitan area’e 25 cities.