BERLIN – Changes continue at town hall as Berlin’s economic development director prepares to move to the Visitor’s Center and take over the Main Street program.
With the resignation of Megan Houston, the town’s Main Street coordinator, later this month, Economic Development Director Ivy Wells is expected to move her office to the visitor’s center. She will also take over Berlin’s Main Street downtown revitalization program.
“I’m sure the transition will be a smooth one,” Wells said. “Michael [Day], Megan and I have been working closely together to get things in order.”
Houston, who was hired last December, said her last day would be Dec. 26. She declined to say where she would be working after that.
“I had a great opportunity come up that I couldn’t turn down,” she said.
Houston steps down just as Michael Day, the town’s retiring economic development director, prepares to go. He has spent the past month working with Wells to familiarize her with her new position.
While he admits the timing of Houston’s departure isn’t ideal, he says Wells will be able to handle the changes in her duties. He pointed out that she led the Main Street program in Sykesville, where she worked before coming to Berlin.
“With Ivy’s Main Street experience, she just needs help,” Day said.
That, he explained, is why instead of hiring a replacement for Houston he believes the town should hire an administrative assistant for Wells. He says he wished he’d thought of organizing economic development and Main Street that way from the start.
Although officials have not yet made a decision on whether to go with Day’s recommendation or to hire a new Main Street coordinator, Wells will be moving her office to the Visitor’s Center regardless.
She is looking forward to the chance to work more closely with the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and area merchants.
“Moving to the Visitor’s Center will allow me to be more accessible to the business and property owners, volunteers and visitors,” Wells said. “It will give me a chance to see how the Visitor’s Center functions and will spark new ideas on how we can work to make it even better.”
Houston said she thought she was leaving the town at a good time.
“I feel happy to leave it where it is because it has so much momentum,” she said. “I love the town and I’m excited that I had the opportunity to be here.”
During her time in Berlin, Houston helped plan the town’s America’s Coolest Small Town celebration, participated in the renovation of the Visitor’s Center and organized volunteers for the town’s ambassador program.