FERRIDAY — Ferriday’s community center project was delayed because the town failed to pay its contractor, architect Chris Williams said.

Wednesday night, town officials called a special meeting to discuss the matter.

The end decision of that meeting was to send Williams a letter asking him to explain in person why the project has been repeatedly delayed.

Rennovation of the old Piggly-Wiggly in Ferriday was supposed to begin in November, but structural issues delayed the project.

The project is being funded by grants from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture.

Town officials said that more than $68,000 in grant monies were paid in architect’s fees to Williams.

More than $20,000 in city monies were also paid to Williams to get the project back on track by April 1, city officials said.

The contractor, Arkel Constructors, inc., was paid according to plan, Mayor Gene Allen said.

Williams says that the payment of $20,000 was for overdue payments.

“The money that I was paid was for past due invoices I’ve been waiting on for six years,” he said.

He has had to redesign the project plans three times, Williams said.

Williams said that the project was delayed past April 1 because Arkel quit the project.

Attorney Derrick Carson said that the contract between the town and Arkel has a clause that allows the contractor to withdraw if the town fails to make payment or if the architect fails to meet certain obligations.

“I’m not doing anything right now because the contractor resigned because they weren’t paid,” Williams said.

“I’ve never had a client default to the contractor before.”

Williams said he still considers the town to be his client.