Ken Mann
1/23/2013
City politicians have sent a proposed change to the terms of a deal with the Carmen’s Group about running the Hamilton Convention Centre back to committee for further study.
Councillors are looking to clear up some confusion about the new operator's request.
The finance department's Tony Tollis is backing the Carmen's position, which is to delay the start of its five year contract to operate the facility until next year, because 2013 revenues are lower than expected.
Councillor Brian McHattie feels it sends a bad vibe since changing the terms of the agreement before it even starts is a "bad way to start this relationship".
But Tollis has reassured councillors that the contract adjustment would not reduce the 10 million dollars over five years that the city expects to save from having Carmens run the Convention Centre.
He stresses that it would leave the city "no worse off financially".
Tollis says it would simply delay the start of the contract until January 2014.
|