04-14-83 Informal Meeting of the Common Council

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Page 2. Informal Meeting of the Common Council and stated that he does not believe tha "civic Hcenter"q was int the l981 business of providing small banquet facilities. _ annual report of the Board of Managers which noted atwo-fold io-fsldvpurpose:to the to improve the health and economic dentt�ate $edn.oted that the Board was community for its own cultural - business away from local straying away from its objectives and taking businesses. In 1981 $523 ,000 of hotel/motel taxes were p aid and in 1982 $582, 000 of hotel/motel taxes were paid. Last year the nryCenter was $184 ,092 in debt. He stated that he believed that the procedure was of illegal, since the Board of Public Works be ton re iewaall remodeling competitive public structures. If remodeling bidding process, but again stressed that there is no need for this room. He suggested that a cost justification analysis be done. Mr. Walz then addressed the proposed extension of the Colonial Caterers contract to 1989. He noted that they receive 25% commissionn of on all food and beverages sold. He noted that the proposed $2 ,50.0 per month to off-set the remodeling costs may be illegal. He stresses that competitive bidding is necessary. Mr. Walz then addressed the proposed reorganization. He believed that there were many management inefficiencies. He had a meeting yesterday t proposed would be cost effective Brian Redman and hopefully Helstatedrthataanzaverage wage increase of 14 . 82% effective and productive. was not realistic in light of theprivate sectoroVxperiencingsclosings and layoffs. The fourth item of concern was the growing e y ntur Center. Elkhart has a 1% hotel/motel tax and SouthnBend has on 5% hotel/motel tax. Mr. Walz called for a review by each area of concern. Mr. Alfred Rubin President of Colonial Caterers then addressed the Council. He noted that his company first came to South Bend 18 years at Notre ago when it first began serving ng atcarpetbaggernand that_itdhas earnedDits' He said that his company is stripes the hard way. He has brought jobs to this community and has taken several employees to Illinois for employment there. He n has broughtnvolvemez excellent and caring catering services. He believes and regrets that the remodeling of the storage roomhwohldreeudelayid. a Colonial Caterers charges more than anyone Se higher quality and a higher thereturn new manager Century ColonialeCaterers then who was introduced Mr. Rich Wagner brought in from Dallas, Texas. Mr. T. Brooks Brademas complimented Mr. Rubin, and noted that he has been a long-time critic of the operation oftheesCenturypasnter. Inn 1972 the State passed the law and a local ordinanc e forth the terms of a joint committee. This is a requirement obeyed, since checks and balances are needed. He then quoted ed the 0, reasin deficits at the Century Center: $135, 000 in 1979, paid through in 1981, and $382 , 000 in 1982. He believes the public "has p the nose".