[thistleclub]

Council begins HECFI makeover, ratifies CUPE pact [Matthew Van Dongen, Hamilton Spectator, June 29 2011]

Councillors voted almost unanimously to ratify a committee decision earlier this week to dissolve HECFI’s board of directors, leaving Mayor Bob Bratina and four councillors in the driver’s seat. There was no debate or comments related to the ratification vote, but councillors Rob Pasuta and Lloyd Ferguson, who is a former HECFI board member, opposed part of the motion related to the dissolution of the board.

The first order of business for the new, council-run board is to meet with senior HECFI staff, said councillor and new board member Sam Merulla. “That’s going to happen almost immediately — within days,” he said after Wednesday’s meeting. “We want to move quickly to make some dramatic changes that will send a signal, not only to the corporation, but to the community.” City staff have been told to ask the private sector to submit proposals for new ways to run Hamilton Place, Copps Coliseum and the Convention Centre. “We want to hear their vision,” Merulla said. “We’re putting the call out.”

Consultant KPMG will also be asked to do a followup review on the agency that could include information about prospective buyers or operators for HECFI assets.