Members of the Senoia Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Tuesday voted unanimously to split the rent and utilities at the city’s Welcome Center with the city until 2011. The DDA Coordinator recently vacated by Stephanie Savage will not be filled.

The vote followed a verbal agreement from an Aug. 14 joint meeting with the city council. Fundamentally, the agreement calls for DDA beginning in September to pay the rent and utilities and for the city to reimburse the organization for 50 percent of the cost. Until now the city had paid all the lease and utility costs.

DDA at the Tuesday meeting amended the agreement to propose splitting other normal operating costs, such as cleaning and supplies, on a 50-50 basis with the city.

The idea for closing the center accompanied the decision not fill the coordinator position vacated by Savage until 2011 due to budget constraints. DDA proposed staffing the center on a part-time basis with volunteers until such time as a coordinator can be hired. DDA’s Suzanne Helfman said Tuesday that the organization felt the Welcome Center was too important for revitalization and redevelopment to have it close.

DDA is looking for volunteers that can help staff the Welcome Center from Wednesdays-Saturdays from approximately 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Volunteers would greet visitors and give directions and hand out written materials.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Suzanne Helfman at (770)599-8182.

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