Adam Prudhomme
Editor
The fate of any potential Greater Napanee BIA (Business Improvement Area) is now in the hands of the merchants who occupy downtown.
Business owners and landlords within the boundaries of the previously folded BIA will be issued letters from the town by the end of this month, informing them of council’s intentions to revive the BIA. Those that receive the letters will have 30 days to respond. If one-third of those who receive letters voice their opposition to a BIA, the town will halt the process of reviving it. If less than one-third object-a non-response is considered being in favour-then the process will continue.
This latest occurrence in the ongoing discussion of the future of the BIA was set in motion during Greater Napanee council’s Jan. 31 meeting. Deputy mayor Brian Calver put forward the motion ‘that council direct staff to begin the process of establishing a by-law to designate an area in the downtown core as an improvement area, using the same boundaries that previously existed for the Downtown Napanee BIA, by no later than Feb. 28, 2023, by issuing notices to all persons assessed for rateable property in a prescribed business property class located within the proposed improvement area in accordance with Section 210 of the Municipal Act.’
In April of last year the previous term of council voted to dissolve the BIA following two years of struggling to keep an active board among continual mass resignations. Since that time there has been an interest among select merchants in reviving the BIA-though there has also been vocal opposition as well.
“What’s going to have to happen after that is that we will establish whether or not we want to set up a BIA,” mayor Terry Richardson said of sending out letters. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us….We’re going to have to make some tough decisions when we get the votes back as to whether or not we’re going to have the BIA. Then we’re going to have to make some decisions with respect to how we’re going to run it.”
Greater Napanee CAO John Pinsent noted there are 103 different businesses identified within the boundary of the previous BIA-operated by about 70 different owners.
Pinsent agreed a formal letter would be the best way to carry out the process, which he noted would be in compliance with the Municipal Act.
“I would prefer not to send a staff member out knocking on doors because quite frankly the relationship between some of staff and some of the business owners is not good,” said Pinsent. “For what it’s worth. It’s toxic.”
Council also voted to begin the process of hiring summer students to maintain planted flowers within the downtown core-part of the beautification responsibilities that typically fell within the jurisdiction of the BIA. Staff is expected to come back with a report on the costs involved with that at the next meeting.
The issue is on a bit of a time crunch as certain decisions would need to be made in advance of the summer season.
-Council voted to support in principle Atura’s plan to build a 15-acre power storage facility at the Napanee Generating Station, located on Hwy 33.
Representatives from Atura made a deputation in early January asking for council’s support on the matter. Council’s support will help Atura in their application to the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator, which has put out a call to local energy supplies to submit proposals to expand their operations in an effort to meet the province’s growing energy demands. Atura will find out in May if the project is accepted and would then begin the process with the town of expanding their facility.
-After much deliberation and input from residents, Greater Napanee has officially adapted a new exotic animal by-law. Among the animals deemed prohibited to be owned within the town are non-human primates (lemur, monkey, ape), canidae (wolf, coyote, fox), bears, hyenas, kangaroos, wallabies, tapirs, rhinoceroses, elephants, seals, sea lions and walruses. Snakes longer than six feet or venomous are also banned, as are venomous lizards. Crocodile, alligator, caiman and gavial also made the list of animals that would not be allowed within the town boundaries.
-Council voted to drop the ‘interim’ tags from fire chief Bill Hammond and deputy fire chief Kevin Duncan, making their titles official.
-Feb. 22 will be declared World Thinking Day within Greater Napanee, a proclamation made at the request of Girl Guides of Canada. The day will be dedicated to speak out on the issues that affect girls and young women, while also celebrating the founding of Girl Guides. This year’s theme is ‘our world, our peaceful future.’
*This story has been corrected to note the location of the Atura power storage facility is at the Napanee Generating Station