The Main Street Meaford organization is looking for people to sit on its board of directors.
Meaford council approved adverting the positions as it aims restructure how the organization is run by removing municipal staff during its meeting on April 15.
The organization was formed after council approved in 2022 launching the new non-profit organization to replace the former Meaford Business Improvement Area (BIA).
Director of Development Services Robert Voight says in a report, “because the organization has progressed and matured from conceptualization to the point where it is ready to make an impact, municipal staff believe it is time that the municipality turn over control of the organization to Meaford’s citizens.”
The goal of the organization is to advance the local culture, while preserving the history of the community and pursue economic opportunities for downtown Meaford.
Meaford will provide limited assistance to the organization after it fills the five board positions. One of the chairs will be filled by someone from the municipality.
“The intent is this is completely citizen run and at any time if they feel that they don’t need that direct in house assistance from staff, that board at that time can change their by-laws and have it they are fully in control and then we as a municipality just run along side them without a member on that board,” says Voight.
The new volunteer board will need to create and present a budget as well as funding plan for council to approve and set funding aside in the 2024 budget.
