GIRARD — City council on Monday gave an initial reading to legislation to proceed with purchasing the former Wellman Theater at 29 W. Liberty St. for $72,900.

Mayor Jim Melfi said council members will be given a chance to go inside and see the building, which officials hope will be used for performing arts-related community events.

Melfi said plans are to give the motion for purchase three readings, which will allow officials to tour the building and also allow an architectural firm to be selected to evaluate it.

Law Director Brian Kren said the $72,900 is the market value for the property.

Council President Reynold Paolone said council members are enthusiastic about the idea of community use of the building for theater and youth groups.

Melfi said just like the Robins Theatre in Warren, he sees the same success for the Wellman Theater becoming a downtown centerpiece for Girard. He said the Wellman Theater could be a smaller version of the Robins, with plans to restore the exterior to its original look.

He said by owning the building, the city will be able to apply for grants.

The Wellman Theater, which opened as the Mock Theater in the 1930s, still has many of the original features, including the main entrance doors. Melfi said he has received calls from community groups interested using it for a performance venue.

The building is being used by a church and has a seating capacity of 500.

“It is an iconic downtown building. Anyone age 60 and older will remember going there for movies and programs. It is the centerpiece of downtown Girard on West Liberty Street,” Melfi said previously.

Officials have spoken to the owners, including Damien Sobnosky, and have reached a tentative agreement for the city to get the 29 W. Liberty St. property. In recent years, the city has been able to tear down nearby buildings in the West Liberty Street area as a way to enhance the downtown.

Officials said they have been working on downtown revitalization.

In other action, council:

• Approved purchase of a backhoe from Murphy Tractor and Equipment of Harmony, Pa., not to exceed $145,832, which will be funded through the water department. Officials said the backhoe will arrive in eight to 12 weeks;

• Approved getting clean fill for the soil at the Ohio Leatherworks property at a cost of $308,745. The property is being cleaned up after 50 years with plans by the city for future development;

• Approved $72,500 from the city’s Community Development Block Grant revolving loan fund as part of the brownfield cleanup at the Ohio Leatherworks property.