Seems to be the question many are asking.
Last night I contacted Jennifer Lord Paluzzi, formerly the managing editor of the Daily Voice Massachusetts editions, to find answers but was left with more questions.
In 2009, Jennifer launched the Grafton site after a year of writing the Greater Grafton Blog. Later that year Northbridge and Millbury were added. In 2010 Shrewsbury, Leicester, Auburn, Westborough, Holden and Northborough were added to the Massachusetts lineup. In 2011 they were acquired by Main Street Connect.
Last summer Jennifer proposed the Upton and Milford sites “because the company was very enthusiastic about expanding in Massachusetts.” The sites were approved but delayed until fall, then pushed out further because of the hurricane, national election, and holiday season, ultimately pushed out until January. Jennifer reports “at some point during all of this, I was told we could have new sites – but not new staff. That was a big alarm for me.”
Last month a Westorough reporter resigned and Jennifer was told she couldn’t fill his spot, “that was a huge concern.”
On Friday, March 1, 2010 the CEO resigned, which was announced by a company wide email, followed up with an email from the company founder, Carl Tucker, who promised good things to come after the weekend. Jennifer was asked to reschedule her staff meeting to Monday afternoon for a conference call.
Monday a sales representative told Jennifer the president of the company had called him and wanted a face to face meeting in the Massachusetts office. At this time Jennifer knew “drop in visits from a guy based in New York are never a good thing…this meant bad news for everyone.”
When she arrived at office the entire staff was laid off effective immediately with only two days pay. A total of 11 employees lost their jobs. No real clear cut explanation.
Jennifer has restarted Greater Grafton because “Someone has to cover Grafton. We have the Grafton & Upton Railroad, a town election coming up, and new business opening.”
UPTON DAILY 