The Ottawa Street BIA is investigating an alleged "exile list" of businesses it's not supposed to promote, says one board member.

But beyond that admission, board members aren't answering questions about the list, including who created it, whether the board was aware of it and how the list has actually impacted the work of the BIA.

"The board is aware of the allegations and we are investigating," said Ottawa Business Improvement Area (BIA) board member Wendy Kemp, also a co-owner of one of several antique shops on the street.

Asked if the board knew about the existence of the exile list, Kemp repeated the sentence and hung up.

Since news of the list broke Monday, s cone of silence has fallen on BIA staff and board members about it, with staffers not returning phone calls and board members hanging up on reporters asking for comment.

Candle shop owner and fellow board member Wes Fletcher also said he had no comment and immediately hung up the phone.

Another member, yoga studio owner Helena McKinney, said she was "not in a position" to make a comment, but said "You'll hear from someone soon."

I think the allegations are very serious and extremely concerning. - Coun. Matthew Green

The purported exile list contains the names of 11 business that the BIA was not to promote or support. It was leaked to the businesses by the BIA's own public relations staffer. Those business have since gone public about the list. It contains the names of four food truck businesses, which would not be BIA members, and seven BIA member businesses.

The list names: Luchador Mexican Fusion Food Truck, Gourmet Gringos, Choco Churros, Fit to Grill, JMS Treasure Chest, Renegade Tattoo Shop, Antique Detective, Maxam Fitness Store, Bounty Hunter Toys, Steeltown Pickers and Prouse Pottery.

Councillor wants answers

The board is expected to meet Wednesday. McKinney did not say if the board would be able to answer any questions after the meeting.

Meanwhile, BIA events co-ordinator Tony Mark has not replied to requests to speak with anyone from the BIA about the exile list.

The group took down its facebook page this week after the list was made public.

City councillor Matthew Green, who also owns a business on Ottawa Street and chairs the BIA advisory subcommittee, called the past two days a "PR nightmare for the street."

"I think the allegations are very serious and extremely concerning," Green said.

He added he will be at Wednesday's Ottawa St. BIA meeting, and that he is hoping for "some kind of clarity."

Green said the city has "no real oversight" of individual BIAs, but that it provides advice and mutual support while allowing the BIAs to be individually autonomous.

Hoping for change

City of Hamilton BIA co-ordinator Carlo Gorni declined to comment about the exile list.

Chad Travis, of Maxam Fitness, one of the businesses on the list, said he believes it names companies that have been critical of how the BIA operates and hopes the controversy leads to change for the better.

"We are the ones who stand up and voice our opinions. We pay into this BIA in hopes that it will help our business out in a positive way.....I hope this will turn out to changes in the BIA on Ottawa street."