Mayor Paul Wiegert and the Harrah City Council on July 3 moved to negotiate new, separate agreements covering the Harrah Chamber of Commerce’s use of a city-owned building and any city funding for Chamber services. The council voted unanimously to create a committee of two council appointees and two Chamber-selected members to draft a new contract or contracts.

The change follows council discussion about what the city is legally allowed to provide to the Chamber and what the city should require in return. City Attorney Robert Thompson advised the council on limits to city support and the need to define measurable, accountable services. Council members discussed whether the Chamber should pay rent under a separate agreement and whether city funding should be limited to payment for specified services, with separate accounting for revenues and expenses.

The motion to form the negotiating committee was made by Councilmember Jennifer McCammond and seconded by Vice Mayor Steve Scalzo; the vote was Yea: Paul Wiegert, Jennifer McCammond, Bill Lisby and Steve Scalzo; Nay: none; Absent: Tim Rudek. Mayor Wiegert appointed McCammond and Scalzo to the committee.

Discussion-only items included the options of (1) a single contract describing an in-kind exchange of building use for services; (2) separate rent and services contracts; and (3) new performance measures and accounting requirements to make funding traceable. The committee is charged to meet with Chamber representatives to negotiate language that spells out required services in a manner that is measurable and enforceable.

The council did not adopt final contract language at the July 3 meeting; the committee will return proposed contract(s) for council review and possible action at a later meeting.