Councillor keeps an election promise: Creates a Registry of who she meets with and what they talked about.

News 100 blueBy Staff

October 28th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Lisa Kearns

Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns.

Part of getting elected for Lisa Kearns was a promise to maintain a Registry of the people who visited her and wanted to talk about city business.

She laid down some rules:

You will need to register if you are meeting to discuss:

a decision or matter that is going to Committee/Council

information that intends to advance the business of the City

a matter to which you may receive any form of remuneration or benefit.

Please be advised this is a voluntary business meeting registry to support the transparency, accountability and integrity of the government decision-making process, and to promote open dialogue between the many stakeholders that complement our community.

And who has had the pleasure of her company and what did they talk about?

It’s all laid out in the Registry.

Kearns by the way is the only member of Council who set up a Registry.  While what happens at the ward level is important – what happens in the Mayor’s office is much more important.  No Registry there.  Why?

Kearns meeting registry

Who asked for what and when?

An election promise that was kept!

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6 comments to Councillor keeps an election promise: Creates a Registry of who she meets with and what they talked about.

  • Stephen White

    It’s important to give credit where credit is due: 1) Coumcillor Kearns said she was going to create a registry and she did; and 2) she made it public.

    Given the sorry state of transparency, candour and honesty in politics the public should be applauding any and every effort to promote more openness and access.

  • True transparency would include those Ward 2 residents she refused to meet and what she refused to discuss that affects the well-being of all Burlington residents. We can start the list but only Councillor Keatns can complete it.

  • Penny Hersh

    Terry,

    I don’t know if I share your opinion of this Registry. You will notice with all the issues of development in Ward 2, August 12 th is the last time anyone approached the Ward 2 Councillor.

    This will only work if developers decide it is worthwhile. What seems to be a good idea in theory does not always work in reality.

    • Terry Rose

      Penny,

      Perhaps the slowdown has something to do with the Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) and the fact that some developers are automatically filing an appeal with LPAT? Once the Planning Committee is again the primary decision-maker you can guarantee the developers will be knocking on their door.

    • Gary Scobie

      I disagree, Penny. No matter how it’s used by others, it’s still a good idea. We wanted transparency, didn’t we? I’m please Councillor Kearns is making the effort.

  • Terry Rose

    Real transparency. Well done, Lisa. Now just persuade your fellow councillors to do likewise