BIA could be facing shutdown

By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express

The Downtown Oshawa Business Improvement Area (BIA) may be at risk as past decisions are coming back to haunt the organization.

After a marathon city council meeting, Oshawa may soon be without its Downtown BIA, as council is looking for staff to find out how BIA members feel about a possible dissolving of the organization.

Multiple downtown business owners spoke to council on what they believe should be done with the organization.

“This board has demonstrated that it’s not capable of carrying out its duties to its members,” says President of Wilson Furniture Darryl Sherman, a member of the BIA.

He asked council to consider the immediate suspension of the BIA’s Board of Directors, noting his belief that these are harsh but necessary steps.

“To allow this board to continue under the circumstances just does not make sense,” he says.

Former City Councillor Louise Parkes, whose husband is a member of the BIA, told council much the same thing, noting staff’s initial recommendation of placing the board under financial supervision won’t address what she calls “tone deaf decisions” made by the board during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oshawa resident Jeff Davis, went a step further, asking council to fully disband the BIA.

BIA Board Chair Ivano Labricciosa tells council the board is aware it hasn’t been perfect.

“The board has admitted, we have work to do,” he says, but he doesn’t believe the BIA should be dissolved.

Currently, staff are putting together a report telling council how they would go about surveying the BIA’s members, which will receive approval from council soon.

According to their website, the BIA works in partnership with the city to create a “thriving, competitive, and safe business areas.”

The organization’s goals are to attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses.

However, after an audit looked into the BIA’s finances, Councillor Jane Hurst put forth a motion that would ultimately dissolve the BIA and put its responsibilities in the hands of city hall.

“Let’s get our house in order,” she says, adding her motion, seconded by BIA board representative Councillor Rick Kerr, would be “ripping off the band-aid.”

Hurst says upon reading the audit of the BIA’s finances, she found the state of the organization to be “unbelievable.”

But not every councillor was in support of immediately dissolving the BIA.

“I would be concerned if this council decided to disband a stakeholder body without even consulting with those stakeholders that would be affected by such a decision,” says Councillor Derek Giberson.

Ultimately, Councillor John Gray’s motion led to the unanimous decision of council to have staff put together a report on how a survey will be handed out to members of the BIA to find out if they feel the organization should be dissolved.