It appears the town is ready to proceed with a bylaw to expand the current Erin Village BIA, though the final decision rests with area businesses.
Last week council agreed to proceed with a public meeting on Sept. 8, with plans to pass the bylaw on Sept. 22.
Currently there are 40 businesses in the Business Improvement Area, all located on Main Street and paying $400 in annual fees, for a total BIA budget of $16,000.
The BIA has proposed increasing that figure to $50,000 by expanding the area to include all 89 commercial and industrial businesses “within the sightlines of Main Street,” as well as setting fees ranging from $100 to $2,800.
While based on assessment, those new fees will also depend on the type and location of businesses. Those in the current BIA or the “core” area, will pay a full portion, with those in the highway commercial and residential transition zones paying half, and industrial businesses paying a quarter.
For example, Finance Director Sharon Marshall estimated a business in the core area with $165,000 in assessment would pay about $560. A business in the transition area with the same assessment would pay half that, and an industrial business one quarter.
However, if one third of current and proposed new members object to the bylaw, it would not proceed. In that case, Mayor Rod Finnie explained, the BIA would then seek an expansion of its core area only. That would also go to a vote, and if defeated, would mean the BIA would revert to its current borders and fee structure.
BIA chairman Shelley Foord told council recently the original BIA bylaw was passed in the early 1980s, so “the numbers are antiquated and not reflecting current values.” She hopes a new bylaw will not only help expand the BIA’s work, but also allow it to hire someone part time to take some of the pressure off volunteers.
Councillor Ken Chapman suggested the township administration building on Trafalgar Road, just south of Hillsburgh, may not be large enough for the public meeting – especially given what he has heard in the community.
“I have talked to people in the industrial area and they are not happy at all,” Chapman said.
Mayor Rod Finnie said the Shamrock room at Centre 2000 could be an option because it is close to the BIA’s boundaries and can hold a lot more people. Chapman mentioned the theatre could be another option. He also expressed concern that businesses could not get their exact fees from the town, but instead had to go to the BIA for the information.
Finnie and councillor Barb Tocher disagreed, saying businesses can indeed get that information from the town office as well, but if they want more detailed information they may have to go to the BIA.
“It’s not the town’s job to sell this proposal, it’s the BIA’s,” Finnie said.
The town passed – with just Chapman opposed – a resolution stating that:
– staff will prepare a written notice of council’s intent to the pass the BIA bylaw;
– building owners are obligated to provide copies of the notice to tenants and provide the township (by Aug. 16) with a current listing of all tenants and their share of the municipal taxes;
– owners and tenants have 60 days – until Sept. 14 – to provide written objection to the bylaw; and
– council will hold a public information meeting on Sept. 8 in the Shamrock room at 7pm to provide information and get comment on the bylaw.
