The city council briefly discussed the cancellation of the Gus Macker tournament next year, clarifying that the amendment to the agreement was at a request and not their decision. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

After the announcement last week that Collaborative Children’s Solutions will not be sponsoring the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament for the next two years following an amendment to their contract with city council, council members are looking to clarify the reasoning behind the cancellation.

Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, during Monday’s work session said he has seen some confusion online regarding this cancellation and as to who actually made the decision.

“Basically what it came down to was money,” Russell said. “Mr Smeraldo and his team approached the city and basically told us we lost money on Gus Macker this year and that he couldn’t continue to do that.”

Russell said Patrick Smeraldo, president of Collaborative Children’s Solutions, requested that the amendment be made to his contract with the city to remove the tournament. After the city attorney looked it over and agreed the city council approved the request to remove Gus Macker from the agreement for events between Collaborative Children’s Solutions and the city.

“Despite some of the rhetoric out there the city council or the mayor did not take it away from them, we did not cancel it,” Russell said. “That was something that was requested by Mr Smeraldo. Maybe in the future I would like to see that come back. Maybe someone else can pick up that project and go forward and have it back in the city of Jamestown.”

City council president, Tony Dolce, thanked Russell for making the clarification, saying he had heard some of the questions out there as well.

“Originally we had budgeted about $65,000 for the six events, so at his request he is going to do the other five events that were done last year, minus the Gus Macker,” Dolce said. “Again, at his request.”

Smeraldo said last week that he fully understands that financial risks come with holding numerous events, but that it is also his task to remain fiscally responsible for both the city and his own organization. Additionally, he said he is proud that they were able to grow the tournament by a few teams each year, saying that 65% of the players and families traveled more than 50 miles to come participate last year. This did help the local economy, but with the rising costs and the fact that CCS is small, Smeraldo said they are unable to take a gamble on the tournament each year, “jeopardizing our overall scope of work.”

Smeraldo thanked everyone from Macker LLC including Scott McNeal, Patty Donavan, and Mike Fuller, who Smeraldo said were “an incredible help to the CCS Team along the way”, along with those in the city of Jamestown who assisted as well as JCC President Daniel DeMarte, Angel Spitzer, Kip Reynolds and the team at Jamestown Community College. Smeraldo also thanked local businesses and organizations including Wegman’s, JRSC Digital, the Army National Guard, Ed Shults, Casella Waste and many more, including Smeraldo’s mentor John Felton from Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.

“I’m trying to always be a glass is half full guy and am excited that Jamestown and Chautauqua County are continuously looked at for all the great things our area has to offer and fully support each and every event along with the companies or organizations who put in the hundreds of hours to do great things in our community,” Smeraldo said.