Newmarket’s Main Street BIA will seek members' input as it navigates how to improve its governance and the way it does its business.
The association undertook a governance and service delivery review and is planning to create a working group to guide the organizational changes. The BIA board and members gathered to discuss the report Feb. 2.
Dorothy St. George of McSweeney and Associated Consulting said that BIA membership will guide improvements, which could include adding a staff person and finding new revenue sources.
“The ideas and energy of the membership are needed to help maintain the momentum and make Newmarket the best it can be,” she said. “To achieve the vision of what the membership wants to achieve.”
The review highlighted how Newmarket’s BIA, which has 149 members, differs from many others. Its levy is significantly lower than other BIAs of its approximate size at $201.34 versus $844.50 for BIAs between 100 and 150 members.
About 86 per cent of BIAs of Newmarket’s size have staff. But only 36 per cent of BIAs pulling in less than $40,000 from levy fees, like Newmarket, have a staff person.
The consulting firm recommended that the working group develops more standard operating procedures, defines service levels and explores financial mechanisms to grow BIA capacity.
Still, St. George said there are other ways to bring in more dollars besides levy increases, such as sponsorships and grants that could be pursued.
Board chair Tom Hempen said the current budget goes to advertising and events, but the pandemic has had an impact. He added that the BIA would typically make money through its Canada Day event, but that fell by the wayside, with the town also stepping in to run it last year.
“There was a difficulty in getting board members and volunteers to participate in the event, in running that event,” he said. “We had just come out of COVID and people were working in their businesses.”
BIA member Glen Wilson said the association has historically run well with its limited budget.
“I don’t recall any situation where we were rubbing our hands wondering how we’re going to pay for things. We always had enough money,” he said.
However, bringing on a staff member who could devote time to things like advertising would be positive, Hempen said.
“It would be very beneficial to the downtown,” he said. “It’s just difficult to find somebody (on the board) who can dedicate the amount of time we need.”
Town economic development officer Chris Kallio said the plan is to create a working group to work on BIA changes at the next annual general meeting, now scheduled for March 7.
Hempen said he looks forward to the BIA having a standard operating procedure and said it was notably absent when the current board came on.
Having member input is also important, he added.
“That way, we can all work in the same direction,” he said. “You can’t please everyone all the time but majority representation is very important for any board.”
