The Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) is trying to assist local businesses to reopen after COVID-19 closures with printed materials, suggested safety procedures and assistance acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE).
“Right now we are focusing on the reopening tool kits and being able to provide those to local businesses in order to help them reopen,” said Tim Hendry, director of communication and economic development for TBM. “We are putting together tool kits that include posters and floor stickers. It really all comes down to proactive education around what our new normal will be and making sure the expectation is clear to both visitors and residents.”
TBM mayor Alar Soever, says local businesses have been provided with a few guidelines to help them establish post COVID-19 safety procedures.
“The Blue Mountain Village has very detailed procedures, which they have been generous enough to share with us and those are being provided to the other businesses as well,” said Soever. “Some smaller businesses may not have the capacity to develop their own procedures.”
He says the procedures provide recommendations for cleaning different surfaces, what PPE you should wear for different circumstances and best practices for social distancing.
“It is basically to help the businesses out in creating a safe environment,” Soever added.
At a recently held meeting, the Thornbury Business Improvement Area (BIA) board outlined a number of things they would like to see TBM put in place to help local businesses reopen after the COVID-19 closures, which included, removal of parking on Bruce street, additional portable hand sanitizer dispensers and portable washrooms in the BIA, enhanced garbage collection in the BIA area and assistance in getting PPEs to local business owners.
“This is all to do with the changes we think are required to make the town more visitor-friendly in light of the pandemic,” said George Matamoros, chair of the Thornbury BIA board.
Director of community services for TBM, Ryan Gibbons says he has been working with local contractors to source additional toilet and handwashing stations.
“I have been able to source a portable trailer that has four or six sinks in it and we may be able to install that in the Hester street area. We are trying to source the hand sanitizer stands as well,” Gibbons said. “We have about 15 portable washroom units on hold, which would be distributed to our regular locations, but they would be available for other locations if needed.”
When it comes to PPEs, Hendry says TBM has been working closely with Grey County to compile a list of local suppliers.
“That list of suppliers will be made available on the Explore Blue website very shortly. If there are businesses that are looking for gloves, masks or sanitizer, we do have a list of local suppliers that currently have inventory,” said Hendry.
However, Matamoros says he wants the town to do more to help acquire the PPE masks at a reasonable cost.
“My hope is that the town could buy a large amount of non-medical masks and then our local businesses would be able to buy 25 or 50 at an advantageous cost that the town may be able to acquire by buying a large amount,” Matamoros said.
Matamoros’s suggestion had also been presented earlier by town councillor Rob Sampson at a recently held TBM council meeting.
“As we transition into the new phase, a lot of the businesses really would like us to be the purchasing muscle for PPE that they need to acquire, either for their own employees or for customers to their business,” said Sampson. “I have had at least one business enquire whether the town would consider being the purchasing agent of some sort for the purchasing of masks, sanitizer, sanitizing material, shields, etc. I think we need to look at how we can do this on behalf of our local businesses.”
According to TBM CAO, Shawn Everitt, the town is looking into its ability to order a large quantity of PPE masks, and other COVID-19 related safety items, for distribution to local businesses.
“We are continuing to look for PPEs and sanitizer. I can tell you that even for our own supplies, sanitizer seems to be at a bit of premium,” Everitt said at a recent TBM council meeting. “With the masks, we do have the ability to order a number of masks, which I am hoping to do so this week. Moving forward, I think we need to be looking to see where we can provide additional support and work with our business community.”
