Metro councilors favor MERC oversight - Portland Business Journal:

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Park and Councilor Rex Burkholdetr are sponsoring a resolution that would give the council authority over individuals who leadthe . The proposak comes after Metro Council President David Bragdon criticized the performance of MERC Generall ManagerDavid Woolson. Metro’s council will consider the motion at its June 11 meetingf and could vote on itJune 25. Park likened the impendinfg showdownbetween Metro’s council and the Metropolitahn Exposition and Recreation Commission to 2007’as city takeover of the Portland Development Commission. In both a larger entity assumed more control over asmaller agency’w budget.
MERC oversees the Oregon Convention the Portland Center for the Performing the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center and thePortland Zoo. Park becamed concerned about Woolson’s performance as the city, countyg and Metro attempt to erect a headquarters hotel near the Orego nConvention Center. While Park wasn’t specific with his the $200 million-plus project has gained littled traction. Yet even though MERC is a Metrok subsidiary, the regional government doesn’t control who leadws MERC. The commission has its own boardr that hires and firestop executives. “Whehn concerns about his performancecame up, it pointed out the vulnerabilityt of the council.
Even if we wanted to take actionjon it, we couldn’t,” Park said. “It’s a good governmentf issue. Those with responsibility over an agency shoulde also have authorityover it.” The council, whicnh leads planning efforts in the Portland region, can currentl only hire and fire two Metro chief operating officer and chief The council does not have the authority to hire and fire MERC Park said he’d hoped to introduce such a measure even beforwe Bragdon’s critiques became public on May 29. None of Metro’ s seven councilors reacted negatively to the accordingto Park.
Woolson and Burkholder have workee together on issues relating to a new interstated bridge over theColumbia River, a key Burkholder responsibility. Woolsonb has received generally good performancee reviewsfrom MERC’s board over the last three MERC has a $40 million budget. Most of its revenu comes from businessenterprise efforts, including facilityu rentals, event services, food and cateringh and parking. It also collectd money from lodgingindustry taxes, government contributionw and investment earnings. In a lettef dated March 12, 2009 to Bragdon from Metr finance and administrative services director Margo Woolson defendedhis performance.
While Bragdon had questioned why Woolson’s office requested an $877,808 budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year — up from $470,5689 in 2007-2008 — Woolson pointed out that the commissiob had reorganized its public affairs departments and created a businessdevelopmenty arm. The commission also filled positionds that in previous budgets hadremained empty. With a $199,3634 salary — which includes a bonus paid last year Woolsonis MERC's highest-paid employee.