Front Street marketing chief resigns - Hartwell, hired by A&P, alleges lack of City Hall support By: Becky Bell - Texarkana Gazette Front Street Marketing Director Charlotte Hartwell has resigned from her position with the City of Texarkana, Ark. Hartwell gave her resignation notice at Monday’s Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors meeting. She planned and worked 21 events in 19 months in her time with the city, according to a presentation she made Monday night. She told directors she had begun her job on Aug. 6, 2012, and listed her last day in a presentation as March 5, 2014, although she said on a phone call Tuesday afternoon that Monday was her last day, and she had handed over her city cellphone and other city property. Ward 1 Director Ruth Penney Davis, who has shown support to Hartwell after previous events that were put on by the city, questioned why Hartwell would leave after so many successful events, including Mardi Gras, which took place Saturday downtown and brought in thousands of people. “Being a public relations person, I would be sabotaging my future to tell you the reasons I’m leaving. ... I’m seriously considering becoming an independent event organizer in the city,” Hartwell said. Hartwell said she had already been approached by some individuals on the Texas side regarding future events. “I did not have the support of City Hall to help with these events,” Hartwell said at Monday’s meeting. Hartwell’s communication to the board Monday included a short slide show where she presented pictures from Saturday’s Mardi Gras and explained that one vendor from Sports Clips ran out of 4,000 coupons and had to print 4,000 more and then also ran out of those. Ward 3 Director Londell Williams asked Mayor Wayne Smith if the board had to accept Hartwell’s resignation, but Smith explained that the board had no bearing on Hartwell’s future with the city. The A&P Commission hired Hartwell in August 2012. Hartwell said the job she was hired for was based on marketing and public relations, and she only learned later that she would also be responsible for planning events. Her salary was $60,000 per year and was paid through the A&P Commission, she said. Hartwell said when she started working for the city, the city would be in the red following the events, but she had managed to put $26,000 into an account that had in the past been in the red $50,000. Hartwell said she managed to turn the city’s profit margin around by allowing work on staging to be bid out. Also, some events require an entry fee to be admitted and T-shirts are also sold. Vendors must also pay a fee for space at the events. Smith said he admired Hartwell’s work ethic and was disappointed to see her leave the city after the turnaround she had helped make regarding city events. “She was the first one there and the last one to leave. I hate to see you leave,” Smith said. “In my opinion, You have more than exceeded my expectations. On Tuesday afternoon, Smith reiterated his support for Hartwell. “I wish we had an incentive to keep her, but I understand,” Smith said. City Manager Harold Boldt did not make a comment regarding Hartwell’s resignation Monday night. “Charlotte is a very talented lady, and the city of Texarkana, Ark., has greatly benefited from her efforts,” Boldt said Tuesday. No one spoke against Hartwell during citizen’s communication on Monday although Hartwell and those who have been supportive of her have said she has been the target for criticisms from those who operated with city events, such as Rail Fest, prior to her arrival. Gail Turner, manager for Sports Clips, came to Monday’s meeting to express her support for Hartwell and said the events she had participated with that were planned by Hartwell had allowed her to get exposure for her business on Richmond Road in Texarkana, Texas. Despite being open for several years, Turner said the events held on Front Street allowed her to introduce the business to those who might not have heard about it before. “We got a wonderful return on our investment,” Turner said. “Instead of asking for beads (at Mardi Gras), people were asking me for coupons.” A post on Facebook from West Ark Concert Services at about 2 p.m. Tuesday thanked Hartwell for the work she did for the city of Texarkana, Ark. “West Ark Concert Services would like to thank Charlotte Hartwell for all the time and energy she put into making Texarkana festivals the successes they have turned into over the past year. We were able to work with her on several of these events, including Oktoberfest and last weekend’s Mardi Gras parade and Jo-El Sonnier concert,” the post stated. bbell@texarkanagazette Published: 03/05/2014
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:43:29 +0000
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