The new BIA (Business Improvement Area) executive board of directors will continue its mandate of beautifying downtown while pursuing new initiatives to promote shopping local, says new chair Richard Morris.

Morris was recently elected chair, filling a vacancy left by the resignation of Dave Deighton. At the same meeting, a new executive was appointed consisting of Dave Glass, Dave Deighton, David Harper, Mike Doherty and Krys McDonald.

"We're really looking forward to working together co-operatively to promote Meaford and encourage shopping in our downtown," said Morris, after the executive's breakfast meeting on Friday morning.

The BIA approved a $2,500 budget for flowers to fill the downtown planter boxes and the bridge boxes on Bridge St, Sykes St. downtown, as well as the bridge on Highway 26 West.

"We are working in co-operation with Georgian Bay Secondary School students who will be growing the flowers for the bridge boxes again this year," said Morris, adding the rest of the planter boxes will be supplied by Ormsby's Garden Centre.

Morris also thanked Sykes Street North residents Joe and Joan Williams for their efforts. "We supply the flowers and they look after planting, weeding and watering the boxes on the highway bridge," he said. "We really appreciate their efforts."

The BIA also approved a grant for the Scarecrow Invasion and discussed the implications of the municipality's funding cuts at the Meaford Chamber of Commerce.

"I think the cuts will affect the whole downtown, especially the loss of the Business Information Centre," said Morris, who added the chamber would be holding a meeting next week to discuss how to deal with the cuts.