Cortland Downtown Partnership Executive Director Adam Megivern addressing Cortland County legislators in November. Megivern was vocal in his criticism of lawmakers for their decision to decrease funding from occupancy tax revenue for the Partnership (Cortland Voice)
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Adam Megivern, who has served as Executive Director of the Cortland Downtown Partnership since 2008, has resigned, the Partnership said in a press release Friday morning.
Jane Witty, Office Manager and Director of Events, will continue to facilitate the Partnership's programming and events in Megivern's absence, according to Evan Geibel, who serves as President of the Partnership's Board of Directors. Geibel is also the publisher of the Cortland Standard.
Megivern's resignation has been effective since Dec. 28, 2018, though the news didn't break until Thursday, when WXHC published a story indicating Megivern had stepped down from the position.
Megivern could not be reached for comment.
Formed in 2006, the Cortland Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit organization that was formed to promote the "commercial and cultural offerings" of downtown Cortland, according to the organization's website. The organization is sustained by support from local businesses, grant funding, and volunteers.
In November, Megivern authored a strongly worded letter directed to Cortland County legislators in which he criticized them for deciding to cut the Partnership's funding share of occupancy tax revenue. The Partnership was allocated $20,000 in 2018 and just $5,000 in 2019. Legislators justified the cut by pointing to occupancy tax law, which states that occupancy tax revenue is meant for organizations or events that generate overnight or multi-night stays at county lodgings and hotels.
In his letter, Megivern said that the funding cut would result in the cancellation of annual events such as the New Year's Eve celebration and Chill-a-Bration.
Megivern is credited with finalizing the purchase and renovation of the formerly vacant 40-42 Main Street building, which now serves as the location of the Partnership's offices and the home of the Cortland Business Innovation Center.
The Partnership did not say if it would be seeking a new executive director. Megivern is still listed as the organization's Executive Director on the Cortland Downtown Partnership website.
While he was still maintaining his leadership role at the Partnership, Megivern was elected to Cortland Common Council in 2015. He lost his seat to Democrat Troy Beckwith in a re-election bid in 2017.
