The Stirling-Rawdon BIA will continue to run as it currently operates for the remainder of 2026.
That decision was made by Stirling-Rawdon council at their meeting on Tuesday.
As part of the decision, town staff have been directed to prepare a background report for the new council outlining the governance concerns, the BIA’s proposed revised constitution, potential alternative organizational models and options for the future of the BIA.
In early August, the town had received a report that looked into steps to potentially dissolve the BIA citing concerns regarding a lack of member participation and engagement, as well as a low budget, and inability to increase revenues or enter partnerships.
Following that meeting, a board executive with the BIA, Jessica Rogers, reached out to Quinte News pushing back on some of the concerns brought up in the initial report.
The town reiterated in a press release that no decision had been made to dissolve the organization, and that it’s only looking at options and potential alternatives for supporting downtown businesses, events and economic development.
In the report to council on Tuesday, town staff noted that a meeting between members of council and Rogers took place on August 11 discussing concerns identified in the previous staff report and to provide an opportunity for the BIA to respond and identify potential options moving forward.
After what was described in the report as an extensive discussion between both parties, there was a “general recognition during the meeting that aspects of the current BIA structure require review.”
The report states that the BIA developed a revised constitution that it believes would provide a governance model more appropriate to its current operations.
Concerns were also raised by the BIA about how the possibility of dissolution had been introduced, indicating that they would have preferred further consultation before that option was
presented to council.
Also discussed were alternative approaches to supporting downtown businesses and community events, including the potential for a Chamber of Commerce or Main Street-type model.
With the current term of council coming to an end, and the municipal election set to take place on October 26, town staff say in their report that BIA representatives requested that the existing board be permitted to continue for the remainder of 2026 and acknowledged that changes to the BIA structure could also be considered by the incoming council.
Rogers did present a delegation on Tuesday, highlighting a petition with a total of 681 signatures supporting the BIA.
During the delegation, Rogers asked council to make an amendment to include consultation with the BIA on the staff report, and remove time constraints that hinder 2027 planning.
No amendment was brought forward by council, with the motion passing as is.
