BENCHSIDE MAGAZINE GETS $1500 FROM BIA: CONFLICT OR COINCIDENCE?

By Scott Bird
​Grimsby BIA Watch
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GRIMSBY, ON In spring 2025, the Grimsby Downtown BIA began looking for someone to redevelop its website. On April 30, 2025, the Board directed Executive Director Amanda MacDonald to obtain quotes for the work. BIA director Ben Burns had expressed an interest in pursuing the website contract, according to records available to Grimsby BIA Watch.

When the website RFP came before the Board on June 25, 2025, the official minutes recorded no declarations of pecuniary interest. Burns remained at the table and seconded the motion receiving the RFP and authorizing the Executive Director to procure a website vendor for up to $5,000.

Burns did not get the contract. By August 13, 2025, the BIA was publicly reporting that the website redevelopment had been awarded to Civiconnect and that work was already underway.

Then, at the next Board meeting on September 10, 2025, Burns’ own business entered the discussion.

An advertising opportunity involving Benchside Niagara Magazine was added to the agenda under New Business. Burns himself seconded the motion adding the item to the agenda. This time, he declared a pecuniary interest. The reason recorded in the minutes was straightforward: Burns was the owner and editor of Benchside Niagara.

But the declaration did not end his involvement. According to the official minutes, Burns presented the advertising opportunity to the Board, explained that other Niagara BIAs had approached Benchside, and provided the publication’s pricing: $900 for one full-page advertisement or $1,500 for two.

Only after presenting the opportunity and pricing did Burns withdraw from the discussion and vote.

The remaining directors then considered the purchase. Christine Kempf moved the motion, Lisa Sproston seconded it, and the Board approved $1,500 for two Benchside advertisements from the BIA advertising budget. Burns did not vote on that motion.
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There is no evidence establishing that the advertising purchase was compensation for Burns not receiving the website work. But the chronology is clear: Burns was interested in BIA website work, the contract went to Civiconnect, and less than one month after that award was publicly reported, Burns presented his own publication’s advertising opportunity and pricing before the Board approved $1,500 for Benchside Niagara.
For businesses funding the BIA through the levy, that sequence deserves scrutiny.