Fed-up councillor says time for debate on CFL stadium is over

The councillorfor Dartmouth Centre says he's read thedetailed analysis forthe $110-million stadium proposed bySchooners Sports and Entertainmentfor Shannon Park and he's ready to vote on it.

Coun.Sam Austin plans to put a motion before council Tuesday to nix a plannedmonths-long staff review of the proposal. The motion will require the support of two-thirds of council to pass.

Last week, the Schooner group submitted its proposal, containing various ways the municipality could fund the stadium and community sports complex.

They include an upfront cash payment of 15-20 per cent of the cost, to annualpayments of $2 million with the expectation of getting money back through ticket sales.

Austin isn't buying any of the those options, which would run into millions of dollars.

"I just looked at what they're asking of us in terms of the municipal financial contribution and whereI feel the stadium ranks in terms of municipal priorities and I just can't square the two," he said.

"I don't see anything that's going to come out of this being something that I can support."

He disagrees with Halifax CAO Jacques Dub's decision to have city staff review the report and make a submission in the spring.

"What are we doing six months worth of detailed analysis and work, because that's not free," he said. "There's... a cost there.You're putting staff on to this instead of doing other work.

"To me, it makes sense to have that conversation, check in with council to see do we want to commit to this work? Do we want to advance this to the next stage or not? For me, I've seen enough at this point."

Fellow Dartmouth councillor Tony Mancini disagrees.

"I'm opposed to it. I get his motion. But I think we need to do due diligence. I think we should go ahead and continue to direct staff to do an analysis on the proposal then come back a recommendation," he said.

"What I see so far in the proposals, I'm not jumping upwith any excitement. But I want to see staff assess, take a deep dive into it. Come back with a recommendation. They may even come back with alternatives. That's why I'm not in favour Councillor Austin's motion."

Mancini, who's deputy mayor for Halifax,represents Harbourview-Burnside-Dartmouth East where Shannon Park is located.

Both Austin and Mancini said it is hard to gauge how the vote will go on Tuesday.

Mancini also said he hasn't yet decided whether or not to support the stadium.

"I'm getting lots of opinions on it andnow I want to hear from my residents and I want to hear from our business people on it," he said.

Mancini said he does understand what is fuelling Austin's move.

"That's his prerogative. He doesn't like thestadium. Sounds like to me he's already made up his mind. I haven't made up my mind."

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