Bay Council recap: The show won’t go on

A&G Theater

A&G Theater

At last night’s Bay St. Louis City Council meeting, members signed off on a new agreement with Bay Harbor Fest promoter Mike Rosato but turned down his request to have concerts inside the old A&G Theater during the festival weekend.

There was much debate about giving special permission to use a building that doesn’t have a certificate of occupancy. Rosato said he has conferred with a structural engineer, an acoustic specialist and the fire department to try to clear the way to put on the concerts.

City attorney Donald Rafferty warned that suspending the rules to allow the shows inside the vacant theater would set a bad precedent.

In the end, Councilmen Favre, Boudin and Compretta were outvoted, and Rosato’s request for the special permission was denied 4-3.

The council also voted in agreement with the Planning and Zoning Commission applications. The city’s proposed ordinance for short term rentals was tabled by P&Z until next month.