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DDC Discusses Downtown Mall Manager Position at Length

June 12th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

A lengthy discussion on the next mall manager dominated Thursday’s regular monthly meeting of the Downtown Development Commission. The position has been vacant since December when Makayla Dodge resigned.  Questions remaining unanswered at this point center on compensation; where the office will be housed; and perhaps most importantly,  who the mall manager will take direction from and report too. The hire is essentially viewed as a collaborative effort involving the DDC, the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and the City of Cumberland. Early conversations have suggested expanding the scope of the job- with more of an emphasis on economic development- as well as having the next hire fall under the umbrella of the CDEC.  The position  has been funded by the DDC over the years utilizing a portion of mall tax revenues- and if that remains the case- DDC chair Sandra Saville says the focus should remain on the downtown business district and property owners…

 

So far a salary range of $40 to $70 thousand has been discussed using a combination of city and DDC funds, but councilwoman Laurie Marchini points out that it’s difficult for the city to make any firm commitments just yet…

 

CEDC executive director Paul Kelly said its important to remember that ultimately all three parties share the same goals…

The DDC agreed to form a committee that will work toward outlining specific charges and tasks; the total scope of the job; compensation; and a chain of command for decisions moving forward. Deadline for applications is June 18th- as of yesterday a total of 4 had been received.

12 Responses to “DDC Discusses Downtown Mall Manager Position at Length”

  1. June 12, 2020 at 5:17 am, Hank said:

    Maybe they should start a new task force or blue ribbon committee!

    Reply

  2. June 12, 2020 at 7:54 am, Welchy said:

    Another committee that’ll solve it!

    Reply

    • June 12, 2020 at 12:42 pm, Mark said:

      > Don’t get ahead of yourselves guys. First there needs to be a consultant study (costing tens of thousands) to look into if an “Exploratory Committee” is advisable. If so, this committee will look into forming the “Task Force”, which will hire another consultant to advice it on whether to create a “Mall manager Position”. Then you will be closer to your goal. First things first!! Gee, don’t you guys know how Cumberland government works yet??

      Reply

  3. June 12, 2020 at 8:09 am, Ken said:

    SOOOO… They are hiring this manager, they don’t know what the full job description and responsible duties are, don’t know who this position will be directly reporting to, don’t know who will fund this position, and don’t know where they will get the money… Surprised people are not just jumping to apply for this unknown job! Who in their right mind would want a job and have so many unknowns.

    Reply

    • June 12, 2020 at 9:15 am, Jay said:

      As I’ve stated before, what is there to manage? I’m guessing that there are around a dozen empty store fronts and perspective tenants are not exactly lining up to buy or lease those spaces.

      Reply

      • June 12, 2020 at 12:02 pm, Bob said:

        > Quite correct, though even if someone were daft enough to want to open a business there they would be challenged. A couple years ago, there were posters in the windows of many of the vacant buildings proclaiming “Picture Your Business Here” and citing an out-of-service phone number for inquiries.

        Reply

  4. June 12, 2020 at 8:29 am, Hoagie said:

    People stay very very very far away from this job. They have zero clue. Application states “must be a whipping post when things dont go as expected”.

    Reply

    • June 12, 2020 at 10:05 am, Lav said:

      > LOL!

      Reply

  5. June 12, 2020 at 9:38 am, mac said:

    CEDC wants to control the operation of Downtown Mall Manager with ‘more of an emphasis on economic development’.
    In effect CEDC is wanting someone else to do their job for them. It sounds as if filling those empty store fronts would fall to the new Manager.
    CEDC wants their own operation, paid for by the City/County but they want to fob off some of the work on the new guy.

    Reply

    • June 12, 2020 at 9:41 am, Jay said:

      Economic development in Cumberland is a contradictory term. Kind of like radio personality or military intelligence.

      Reply

    • June 12, 2020 at 10:28 am, Ken said:

      Mac, you are absolutely correct! The CEDC is all about power and prominence without any work or successes to deserve any of their importance. Kelly wants someone else to do his job, but doesn’t want to pay that person out of his budget. Kelly, Miller, and the CEDC should have no part of managing this position, but should work incoordination with the person hired as an equal not as a subordinate hired to do their job.

      Reply

      • June 12, 2020 at 2:49 pm, mac said:

        > I’m sorry but that’s not the way they work Ken. They have established themselves as the be all and end all in this burg. They decide what projects are started and finally, if ever, completed. Everyone of us has to rely on their vision of the glorious new Cumberland that’s just right around the corner.

        Reply

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