Lehighton’s Main Street Manager position has been eliminated.

The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation board of directors has terminated the Downtown Lehighton Main Street Manager position that had been held by Bambi Elsasser.

Kathy Henderson, Executive Director of the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation, explained why the move was made and said that it was an internal decision.

“We just felt that it wasn’t working out the way we anticipated it would; it wasn’t working,” Henderson said. “We just felt it was in the best interest that we go a different route.”

Henderson praised Elsasser for her time spent serving in that capacity.

“She was a valuable employee of the CCEDC; it’s very sad to see her go, but we just felt at this time it wasn’t a good fit,” she said. “She did well, what she tried to do, but it was difficult.

As a result of that decision, the Lehighton Downtown Initiative will resume operations, according to LDI President Ryan Saunders.

“We have decided as the LDI to go back to doing community things relative to revitalizing our downtown,” Saunders said Tuesday afternoon. “None of the LDI was dissolved, so we can pretty much pick up where we left off.”

Henderson added “We just felt that (LDI) would be more effective in what they need to do for Lehighton if they were on their own again and under their own board of directors.”

In April, Lehighton Borough Council renewed its yearly $10,000 contribution for Elsasser’s salary.

In November 2021, the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corp. announced that the Lehighton Downtown Initiative and the Lehighton Main Street Steering Committee had come together to form the Lehighton Downtown Partnership and operate under the umbrella of the CCEDC.

Elsasser, who began her position on Sept. 13, 2021, served as the staff person responsible for coordinating all program activities and volunteers, and to create activities in the borough that assist with the revitalization and economic development of the downtown.