Raise the Hammer

Not attacking the ICCA, or the idea of catalyst, but the report is definitely tainted. I was shocked by the bias built into the report (yes, I read the entire thing), and the decision to sole recommend an operator is shocking.

As Jeremy pointed out the $150K report went to tender, so why shouldn't a management contract for such a large project also go out to tender? Regardless if it was the ICCA's idea that fact shouldn't automatically provide the right to manage the final outcome. Using that logic, the Royal Connaught developers should have gotten their money for their subsidized housing plan, after all it was their plan and they negotiated the city bureaucracy and won a city RFP to boot.

The fact that City Staff were involved in the process means little when at least one clearly identifiable staff member has several conflicts of interest.

Jacqueline Norton wrote the Staff Report, and I assume she was engaged with the consultants during their process. First, she at one time was a member of the ICCA's Board of Directors. Second, Jacqueline is married to Glen Norton a Senior Business Development Consultant with Hamilton’s Downtown Renewal office who also has an interest in the Hotel Hamilton, which by-the-way is managed by the ICCA.

Also, Glen Norton is involved with the Hamilton Realty Capital Corp, which Jacqueline writes in the final report "Staff will be looking to the Hamilton Realty Corporation as a potential partner in this regard." This is a distinct change from the consultants recommendation of: the Hamilton Realty Capital Corporation (or other appropriate investment group) to acquire a property within the downtown core."

Take it for what's it worth, but IMHO this report tainted. If you don't agree with the above then head out to the Dynes Tavern, or the Hillcrest for a beer. Closed for years you say, well those are two of the music venues/bar/restaurant listed in the consultants report......