NORWAY – In what Norway Downtown Revitalization President Roy Gedat called “a hard decision,” board members agreed to lay off Main Street Project Manager Anne Campbell at their Aug. 4 meeting.
Gedat said that after paying off all of Norway Downtown Revitalization’s debt, little money remained for upcoming projects. Among upcoming projects, he listed the creative economy grant from the Maine Development Foundation and a project to add gateway signs and streetscaping, funded by a Community Development Block Grant.
Campbell could not be reached for comment.
Gedat stressed that the organization’s financial difficulties were not due to low turnout at this year’s Norway Summer Festival. “We had a great summer festival,” he said. It was a great success and a testament to Anne’s abilities.”
Campbell has been project manager since Norway became a Main Street Maine Community in 2002. In exchange for training and technical assistance from the Maine Downtown Center, Norway agreed to form a downtown revitalization program and to hire a downtown manager for at least three years.
Lori Allen, coordinator of the Maine Downtown Center, said that Norway has fulfilled its commitment as a Main Street Maine Community. In order to remain in the program and to continue to benefit from assistance and grants, though, Norway Downtown Revitalization will have to hire an employee on at least a part-time basis.
“We’re going to work with them for the next couple of months,” Allen said. “Hopefully it’ll all sort itself out.”
Allen said the national average turnover rate for downtown revitalization managers is two years. In Maine, downtown managers usually only remain in their position for two to three years.
Gedat said he feels that Norway Downtown Revitalization may have enough funds to hire someone to do clerical work five to 10 hours a week. The office will be staffed by board members until its Sept. 1 meeting. At that time, Gedat said the board will have a plan for maintaining office hours.
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