LYNN — City councilors applauded Community Development Director James Marsh this week for his six-year effort to guide Veterans Memorial Auditorium from disuse to an entertainment venue that recently hosted its 50th major show.

“He’s been the one person who has been there from the beginning for the greater good of the city of Lynn,” said Council President Timothy Phelan.

Councilors honored Marsh with a plaque Tuesday night and displayed a Boston Pops poster commemorating the City Hall auditorium’s first major show. Phelan said Marsh worked to secure renovation money to restore the auditorium and participated since 2006 in every part of the auditorium’s operation, including ticket sales and air condition installation.

A city website credits Marsh with organizing movie showings, beginning in 2002, in the auditorium.

“He’s been kind of the guiding light,” Phelan said.

Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy on Wednesday told Massachusetts Senior Action Council members that the auditorium air conditioner will be working by July 11 when dog expert Cesar Milan puts on a show in the auditorium with final installation work completed later next month.

“Then we will be able to have shows year round. The auditorium is giving Lynn positive visibility. We’d like to continue to build that up,” Kennedy said.