Orangeville Council is pushing forward with a Request for Proposal (RFP) to replace the Don Cherry's Restaurant in the Alder Street Recreation Centre despite a recommendation from the director of parks and recreation that the process be suspended.

The Citizens' Commission on Finance recommended an RFP come to council within 90 days of their meeting on February 26, as the space has been empty for about a year. At the time, Director Sonya Pritchard agreed to have one ready, noting it would be tough.

She presented a report to council this week suggesting the RFP be suspended as she had received some new information concerning the space.

Ms. Pritchard said two proponents from the original process are still interested in the space. A meeting was held with Mayor Rob Adams, Councillor Scott Wilson, CAO Rick Schwarzer, herself and the proponents, as they were interested in working with a partnership.

"At this point it would appear that there is considerable potential in what the parties would like to bring forward to council," she wrote in her report.

She suggested council hold off on the process at least until May 28 to avoid the additional time and cost a formal RFP process takes. As well, she said by this time the two parties would be required to submit a detailed plan to council that would include drawings, cost analysis and business plans.

If council was not satisfied with the proposal she said the formal process could be reinstated the same week.

Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock said he had a problem with the recommendation, as he would rather have the formal process continue and have these two proponents be a part of it.

A motion to suspend the process lost and the formal process will continue.