Discussion needed on regional amphitheater, HTRFA chair and city manager say

It's March 20, first day of spring! Officials say a proposed music venue near the regional sports center needs discussion on the details. Local voter turnout in referendum in state's top 10.

HTRFA graphic

Williamsburg’s decision to take back $5 million it had transferred to the regional sports and events authority for a music venue raised some questions about how the two bodies handle financial controls, and about the future of the music venue itself.

We met this week with Scott Stevens, the James City County administrator who is chair of the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority, and with acting city manager Michele Mixner DeWitt, also a board member, to get more details and gauge ongoing interest in the music venue.

Both of them said the city had not followed proper process in transferring the money, but categorized it as “an oversight”, saying they had confidence in financial controls at both HTRFA and the city.

They said there needs to be more regional discussion about next steps for the music venue, however.

Stevens said the proposed music venue’s location next to the regional sports center, which will open this summer, made it logical for the city to have H…