BIDDEFORD — The decision will be made tonight about what type of event, if any, will be held by the La Kermesse Franco-Americaine festival organizers this year, according to the organization’s treasurer, Paul Gagne.

“No official decision has been made on what we plan on doing or not doing,” said Gagne, in a telephone interview Wednesday.

However, he said, the chances of a festival like the three-day celebration held for the past 27 years, are “slim to none.”

Gagne said the board will hold a meeting this evening to determine what type of event they can hold.

He said the organization has already booked the musical group Motor Booty Affair to play at the Biddeford Ice Arena and Expo on June 26, which is the Saturday of the weekend when the organization planned to hold the festival.

More events could be planned at the arena for that day, he said.

In addition to events at the arena, “the only thing we could probably pull off is a parade and a block party,” said Gagne.

Financial struggles are the main reason for the scaled-back activities, said Gagne, since the festival owes vendors an estimated $30,000 in unpaid bills from last year’s event.

One reason the festival was unable to break even last year, said Gagne, is because the company hired to provide amusements still owes organizers approximately $14,000. The festival also lost about $16,000 in expected revenue from sponsors that backed out.

Another reason the event this year won’t mirror those of the past, is that the venue where the event has been held in prior years, the city-owned St. Louis Field, is unavailable.

“The festival no longer can be held on St. Louis Field,” wrote City Solicitor Keith Jacques, on behalf of the city, in a letter to the organization.

The letter states that the field was “substantially damaged” during last year’s festival, which disrupted use of the field by sports teams for the late summer and fall playing seasons.

The letter stated a request for La Kermesse to reimburse the city $25,000, the amount the city paid to repair the field.

So far, the organization has not repaid the city.

A meeting was held between the Kermesse board members and city officials after the letter was sent. Mayor Joanne Twomey said city officials wanted to help resolve some of the issues so that some type of festival could take place.

Twomey said she supports the festival and has attended every one in the past. However, she added, she believed that a revision of the festival might be needed and has suggested that a multi-cultural festival in the city’s downtown could be an alternative.

Initially the meeting went well, said Twomey, but it broke down by the end.

Another meeting by the organizers has been requested with the city, according to Gagne.

On Tuesday, Twomey told City Council members she received the request and will place the issue on a future council agenda.

She said she would not do so, however, until items on a La Kermesse Internet Facebook page are removed. The page accuses Twomey, City Manager John Bubier and the Parks and Recreation Department of “trying to derail La Kermesse festival for this year and forever.”

Gagne said the Facebook page is not sanctioned by the La Kermesse organization, and he would like for it to be taken down in its entirety.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.