Alderman Carlton Simmons yesterday accused Team Hamilton colleagues of attempting to undermine the Corporation of Hamilton’s governing Board because of their political affiliations.

And he also charged that some senior administrators were refusing to work with the council because they did not support the elected group.

The council has made a number of headline-hitting decisions this year, including the behind-closed-doors signing of a 262-year lease to developers to redesign the city’s waterfront, sending a four-man delegation to a conference in Colombia and the hiring of a top London law firm to represent it in a slew of court cases. The actions have prompted Ombudsman Arlene Brock to launch an investigation into the running of the municipality.

The decisions have not been supported unanimously by all nine members of the council. According to council meeting minutes, Alderman Gwyneth Rawlins and councillor Larry Scott have frequently voiced their concern at some resolutions and refused to support them.

But Mr Simmons yesterday claimed the two dissenters refused to cooperate with colleagues because they had ties to the former United Bermuda Party.

“They are former members of the UBP and are trying to destabilise this council because it goes against their political affiliations,” he said.

Mr Simmons also accused Corporation Secretary and COO Ed Benevides of failing to block details of council meetings being leaked to The Royal Gazette.

And he said the reason no administrator took notes at a special meeting of the council last week was because no staff member was available.

“There’s still a belief that North Hamilton should come last and we also have a few key senior administrative staff who continue to demonstrate their disapproval of the 2012 election result,” Mr Simmons said.

“Certain people are taking information and using it against the Council. Information continues to find its way to The Gazette and it is the responsibility of the COO to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“Most of the management do an excellent job but the amount of sickness and time off is compelling. and it has become increasingly difficult to find executive staff available when we need them. Some of these senior executive staff are not working with us but their absence shouldn’t mean that we can’t go ahead with a meeting. Last Tuesday’s meeting was called and all of them were either off or had something else to do and it wasn’t the first time — but they were invited.

“And just because a recording hasn’t been made available to them doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. But council meetings are private until they are made public.”

Last night Mr Scott dismissed the allegations, claiming that, although he was a card-carrying member of the PLP, he never allowed his personal political views to interfere with his role as a councillor.

“I did not know the Corporation had political affiliations — the oath was to the City, not to any particular political party,” Mr Scott pointed out.

“What was never declared to me when Team Hamilton was put together was that it was to have no party political bent.

“But if Alderman Simmons has that loyalty then he should declare it. Better still, if he wants to push a political agenda, maybe he should hold himself out for Parliament, not the City.

“I am a card-carrying member of the PLP, but when carrying my Corporation duties I am very clear to keep the two separate and uphold the integrity of the Corporation first and foremost. His conduct and behaviour are at best for bars, not boardrooms.”