Meaford’s Committee of the Whole has approved dissolving the current BIA for a Main Streets organization.
During a meeting on Nov. 28, council reviewed a report by Clerk and Director of Community Services Matt Smith. It recommended dissolving the BIA in favour of founding a new organization, as well as include the needed funding in the 2023 budget.
Smith says the upcoming Christmas on the Bay event would not be impacted by council’s decision, as the new organization wouldn’t take effect until a certain date, which he says would likely be Jan. 1, 2023, the start of the tax year.
“While Christmas on the Bay is a wonderful example of something the BIA has been involved in, I think a Main Streets organization would be able to support an event like that much better than the BIA can. There has been a number of procedural issues associated with Christmas on the Bay and the BIA and some difficulties making decisions quick enough,” says Smith. “Whereas a volunteer-driven Main Streets organization is a not-for-profit and would be in a better place to be able to deal with some of these things than we are with the relationship right now.”
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney voiced she was in favour of the new organization.
“There are several points in it that really strike home for me, one of course is the boundaries of the BIA are now removed and businesses on the outskirts of the core economic district can now really be part of the events that are happening,” says Keaveney.
Coun. Rob Uhrig adds as noted in the report, this self-sustaining Main Streets organization has been used in a great number of municipalities. He says the organization will encourage several members to join and not limit them to just the downtown core.
“It is a self-sustaining non-profit that runs hand in hand with the municipality and what ever support we can provide. It is really an organization built for people who want to get things done and have that focus on everything that a downtown main street can provide for you,” says Uhrig.
Smith says the new organization is much more than just a name change.
“Moving from a government organization that’s bound by the municipal act, rules that were established 60, 70, 80 years ago, to a not-for-profit that has the flexibility and freedom to make choices, I think is a huge change,” says Smith.
CAO Rob Armstrong says a by-law will come back to council in two weeks and are looking to dissolve the BIA by Dec. 31.
