Committee weighs acquiring piano for multi-use room, asks for mover and tuner quotes

At the April 14 meeting the Portola Valley Cultural Arts Committee discussed a new-business proposal to acquire a piano for the town’s multi-use room (MUR). Sue said she thought the committee might use leftover funds to buy a piano or seek a donated instrument if a suitable home could be found.

Sue noted that the MUR location has been approved by the town but that the town had not approved a purchase budget. Committee members emphasized that the primary costs are not the instrument (which can often be free) but moving and tuning. One member recalled a 2018 move that cost about $2,000; the chair cautioned that full expenses for moving and tuning could reach about $3,000. "Even if we were to get a piano for free we're talking about $3,000 that will most likely be in next year's budget," the chair said.

Members asked Sue to obtain vendor quotes for movers and for tuners and to bring those estimates to the next meeting so the committee can consider whether to include the expense in the upcoming budget cycle. Sue agreed to collect quotes and report back.

Next steps: Sue will solicit and present quotes for piano movers and tuners at the committee’s next meeting so the committee can determine whether to budget for a piano acquisition and associated moving/tuning costs.