Norfolk County > Downtown Simcoe BIA

Downtown Simcoe BIA

Simcoe BIA Elections 2023-2026 Term

The 2023-2026 BIA Board of Management nomination period will be open from:

February 21, 2023 to March 3, 2023

 

Notice of Nomination Period

You’re invited to help shape Downtown Simcoe for the future.

Your expertise and passion for Downtown Simcoe combined with your desire to work in cooperation and positivity with your fellow members is what shapes our community for the future. We invite you to apply this expertise as a BIA member and help ensure Downtown Simcoe’s Success for years to come. Read on to find out how.

 

WHAT IS A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA (BIA)?

A BIA allows local business people and property owners to join together and with the support of the municipality, to organize, finance, and carry out physical improvement (in the areas beyond that provided by the municipality) and promote the area as a business district, within established boundaries.

The Simcoe BIA is led by a Volunteer Board of Management comprised of elected BIA members and two members of County Council.

ELECTION PROCESS

  1. Only BIA Members have the right to nominated and vote for representatives to the BIA Board of Management. BIA Board of Management is comprised of BIA Members.
  2. Nominees must also submit a nominee biography. The biography will be posted on the BIA website.

Nomination period closes March 3, 2023.

 

If more candidates are nominated than there are positions available on the BIA Board, the nominees will be presented to the BIA members for voting. Members may vote for one candidate per available seat. Those candidates with the most votes will be presented to Norfolk County Council for approval and formal appointment to the Board. If a lesser number of candidates are nominated than the number of open positions on the Board, those candidates will be presented to Council for approval and formal appointment. The Board will continue to recruit to fill and open positions.

 

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED? 

Nominations

Nominations must be filed in person at the Simcoe BIA office located at 26 Peel St., Simcoe between February 21 to March 3, 2023 between (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday to Friday).

 

Eligibility

To be eligible to serve on the Board of Management, one must:

a) Be BIA Member (whereby Member is determined to be a person who owns a property that has been assessed the BIA levy or be a tenant of said property that is required to pay all or part of the levy within the rental agreement), or a shareholder, director, or employee of a Member who has the written consent of the Member to run for, and if elected to serve as, a Board Member; be at least eighteen (18) years of age

b) Sign the “Nomination Form” picked up from the Simcoe BIA office or available on the Norfolk County website.

 

Voting

Once nominations close on March 3, 2023, the Simcoe BIA Director, in consultation with the County Clerk, shall determine whether nine (9) eligible persons or fewer have been nominated or whether more than nine (9) eligible people have been nominated. If nine (9) eligible persons or fewer have been nominated, then no vote shall be required, and the persons nominated shall be declared elected by acclamation. If more than nine (9) eligible persons have been nominated, then an election shall be held as follows:

Members will be required to attend the Simcoe BIA Office during the designated voting period. Proof of tenancy in the BIA will be required at time of voting, (tax bill, invoices, utility bill, etc.).

Upon proof of eligibility, the member will be provided a ballot listing all candidates in alphabetical order and be able to cast their vote behind a privacy screen and deposit their ballot into a designated ballot box. Each member of a BIA has one vote regardless of the number of properties that the member may own or lease in the improvement area.

Voting will be available between March 20 – March 23, 2023.

 

HOW DO I BECOME A NOMINEE?

To register as a nominee, fill out the Nomination Form and have one of the fellow BIA members support your nomination by signing to nominate you as a candidate for the BIA Board of Management Election and return the form to the BIA office in person by 1:30 pm on March 3, 2023.

Nomination Form

All nominees will be required to show photo ID and / or proof of eligibility.

 

HOW DO I VOTE?

In the event of a need for an election, the election will run from March 21 to March 24, 2023 and held at the Simcoe BIA office located at 26 Peel St., Simcoe during the following dates/times:

Monday March 20, 2023, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm

Wednesday March 22, 2023, 12:00 pm to 6:30 pm

Thursday March 23, 2023, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Each member has only one (1) vote regardless of the number of properties that the member may own or lease in the improvement area.

Voting will close on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 1:30 pm.

NOTE: We encourage you to review the biographies of all nominees before making your selection (bios will be available upon request from the BIA office and posted on the Norfolk County website). Further, we advise you to keep in mind the benefits to having a well-rounded board that encompasses they key skill set of Marketing, Beautification, Finance, Legal, Operations, and Stakeholder Relations and represent the variety of BIA business owners that make up our membership and vote accordingly.

We value diversity and welcome nominees from all businesses, backgrounds, race, religion, creed, gender, orientation, and otherwise.

 

WHAT DOES A BOARD MEMBER NEED?

First and foremost, each Board member must have a keen interest in the affairs of Downtown Simcoe, as well as a commitment to serve and represent the best interest of all businesses in the community.

Further, to ensure the BIA members have a Board that is well positioned to represent the key functions of the BIA we are looking for individuals with expertise in the following categories:

  • Marketing
  • Beautification
  • Economic Development
  • Financial
  • Legal
  • Operations
  • Board Governance

Each Nominee is required to indicate which category(s) they have experience in and provide a brief bio on their experience and/or training. Bio must be maximum 250 words or less. See appendix B.

 

HOW MANY POSITIONS ON THE BOARD?

The Simcoe BIA’s current constitution is approved to have up to nine (9) directors on its board and two (2) appointed from County Council.

 

WHAT IS THE TERM DURATION?

The 2023-2026 term duration shall be from April 1, 2023, to approximately March 2027, or until replacement appointments are made after the 2026 municipal election.

 

REMUNERATION

Board Members shall receive no remuneration, either directly or indirectly, for services rendered as a Board Member, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them representing the BIA upon approval of the Board.

 

RESULTS

Results will be publicly announced at the Norfolk County Council meeting on March 28, 2023, and posted on the County website and Simcoe BIA website.