MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 30, 2003

PROGRESS MADE ON 90-DAY STUDY PERIOD

FOR LAUGHLIN PRIVITIZATION OFFER

FOR THE WEINBERG CENTER

Frederick, Md. ---- The City of Frederick and local entrepreneur John Laughlin are making progress on Laughlin’s January 17^th privatization offer for the Weinberg Center for the Arts.

Dougherty and Laughlin meet yesterday and agreed upon seven key issues to be examined during the study period. During the initial 30 days of the 90-day study period, which was requested by members of the Weinberg family, both parties will analyze the agreed upon issues of deed, lease, capital costs, financial review, audit function, artistic direction, and warp-up. However, the City and Laughlin are not ruling out the possibility of additional topics of exploration to arise throughout the process. The Weinberg Center Board of Directors will be kept abreast of progress via Vincent Hughes, Chief Operations Officer for Citizen Services.

Once both parties have compiled information, a careful comparison examination will be performed. A follow up meeting will be arranged in March 2003 to provide other requested analysis by either party.

Once all pertinent information has been gathered, exchanged, and reviewed by both parties, Laughlin will make a final proposal for privatization of the Weinberg Center to the City. It is estimated this will occur by May 1, 2003.

At that point, Mayor Dougherty the Weinberg Center for Arts Board of Directors, Board of Aldermen, and public will have the opportunity to review the proposal through the City’s normal legislative process which will include one or more public Workshops and a Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting.

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