Event center making improvements

HERMON – The Morgan Hill Event Center has been the site of numerous public and private events since its grand opening last fall, but recently rumors have circulated that the facility is going to close.

“There are rumors out there that just aren’t true,” said Jackie Tapley, one of the owners.

The center, which was built to resemble an elegant New England stable, is an eagerly sought-after venue for fundraisers, musical performances and weddings. In fact, the facility is booked every Saturday from May to October by couples ready to exchange vows in the pine post-and-beam structure resembling a barn.

A few weeks ago, though, a national wedding Web site that helps brides choose the best location, food and dress for their big day posted a blog from a woman who wrote that the Hermon facility may close because of fire code infractions.

“Someone slandered us and it has really hurt [business],” Tapley said. “Some people call saying they heard it’s closing, or we’re bankrupt, but all public and private events are going on as scheduled.”

In December, the State Fire Marshal’s Office inspected the building before an event and found 14 infractions, Tapley said. At that date, the Tapleys had not submitted “as built” drawings of their facility, which are blueprints depicting the structure actually built, rather than the original design.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office since has given the center until May 6 to submit the drawings and a list of building corrections to meet fire codes, according to Nelson Collins, supervisor of licensing and inspections at the state office. Until the May 6 deadline, only one floor of the facility can be occupied at a time and the balcony cannot be used at all, he said.

The submitted corrective actions will have deadlines for completion that require fire marshal’s office approval, Collins said. Whether any sections of the building will be closed because of necessary improvements depends on the corrections identified, he said.

The facility has yet to receive an occupancy permit, but has been granted temporary licenses by the town to hold one-day events. On April 12, the Hermon Town Council voted unanimously to allow the facility to hold events until the May 6 deadline.

Collins said some of the issues that have arisen are “possibly due to the lack of knowledge of construction,” since the Tapleys acted as the general contractor for the center. Acting as their own general contractor was much more cost-effective than hiring out these services, said Jackie Tapley.

“We are complying with everything they want and are ready to do whatever they suggest,” said Morita Tapley, another owner of the facility and Jackie’s daughter.