Six staffers gone from Foothills

January 5, 2010 | Uncategorized

ONEONTA _ Four employees of Foothills Performing Arts Center were fired Tuesday, and two others resigned in support of their colleagues.

Jennifer McDowall, former executive director, said the board has mismanaged Foothills money and called for resignation of the board of directors and public scrutiny of the center’s construction and operations. McDowall and the five other former employees held a media conference at the Clarion Hotel in Oneonta on Tuesday morning after ending their employment at Foothills.

Doug Reeser, president of the Foothills board of directors, said in a media release that the board was disappointed in how the staff managed the organization, particularly in financial accountability. Foothills will continue with programming this year, he said.

The six employees said performances and activities have been planned throughout 2010, and they left a four-page memo with instructions about running programs this weekend.

Bridal Expo 2010 on Sunday “is a go,’’ said Janet Hurley-Quackenbush of Sunrise Specialty Catering, who is also a volunteer for the event. The expo will be at Foothills on Market Street from noon to 4 p.m.