Tony Butala, the only original member of The Lettermen singing group and founder of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum in Sharon, flew in from Wisconsin to attend the downtown revitalization meeting. After the meeting, Butala talked to some 50 residents about his offer to buy the downtown theater for a second time.

The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation offered to buy the theater for up to $10,000, which Butala said should cover the nonprofit Columbia Theatre Inc.'s debts.

His offer was rejected.

Butala told residents he bought the fire-damaged former vaudeville and movie house at auction in 1984 and gave it to Columbia Theatre Inc. to restore.

He said now that the nonprofit group wants to sell the still-unfinished theater, he wants a chance to buy it again and finish the restoration.

Butala said no one on the Columbia board has told him why the board refuses to sell him the building or when the board decided the theater should be sold at a private, sealed-bid auction, instead of a public one.

In a radio spot Wednesday morning, Butala invited the Columbia Theatre board members to the meeting to discuss the planned sale.

Butala asked if anyone from the board was present. No one came forward.

Sharon Councilman George Gulla said the city gives $1,000 a year to Columbia Theatre Inc. but has never been given a satisfactory answer as to how the money is spent. Gulla said he thinks many city officials stand behind Butala in his efforts.

Hermitage Commissioner James "Pat" White said he thinks the community will cooperate with Butala in his efforts to gain control of and renovate the theater.

Several residents asked what they could do to help and suggested circulating a petition to turn the building over to Butala.

Pamela Voisey, executive director of the Columbia Theatre Inc., said May 17 that the group has changed its focus from building renovations to programming and that the building would be auctioned.

"If you're going to give up, step back," Butala said Wednesday, adding he doesn't understand why the board won't accept his offer.

"I think it's just because it's me," he said. "I'm getting an inferiority complex here."