By Pepper Parr
January 10th. 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Lisa Kearns earned the right to put the letters ICD.D behind her name from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management.
Ward 2 City Councillor Lisa Kearns
She has been trained in what it means to be a Director of a corporation – and the city of Burlington is a corporation.
Ethics is a large part of what Corporate Directors are taught.
It appears however that Ms Kearns has forgotten the ethics part of her training.
This realization on our part came about when Dania Thurman posted a note on social media announcing the job change.
Announcing that she was now working for the City of Burlington as the Ward 2 Councillor Administrative Assistant and Community Liaison.
Thurman was one of a small group that was very active in the fight to keep Central High School open when the Halton District School Board announced that it was closing two of the city’s seven high schools. Central was on the to be closed list.
Thurman was also an active volunteer in the breakfast program at elementary schools in Burlington. She went on to become the Executive Director of one of the organizations that runs breakfast programs at schools in the Region.
Dania Thurman and ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns at an election information sharing event.
Thurman and Kearns are close.
When we read the Thurman announcement two things popped up for us?
Why was Thurman announcing her new job? This task is usually done by the ward Councillor and is followed by a statement from the new Administrative Assistant and Community Liaison person on how excited she is about being able to serve the residents of ward 2.
We asked the City Communications people to clarify just how Administrative Assistants are hired.
City Hall was in the process of closing down for the holidays and some communications staff were not available.
When they did get back to us they said:
In response to your second question, job opportunities for City staff positions are shared in the careers section of the City’s website at burlington.ca/careers. The application and interview process is coordinated by Human Resources.
Individuals interested in a job opportunity can submit their application online. Once the application period for a job posting has closed, interviews are conducted with eligible candidates and a selection is made.
The job posting for the Ward 2 Councillor Assistant and Community Liaison position was posted from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, 2023.
The new Ward 2 Councillor Assistant and Community Liaison started with the City on Dec. 18, 2023.
With that information we wondered if Councillor Kearns was involved in the selection process and when she was told that Thurman was going to be her new Administrative Assistant and Community Liaison. .
There is no mention of Dania Thurman becoming her new Administrative Assistant in the most recent ward 2 newsletter.
We wondered as well if Kearns did not advise the Human Resources staff that it would not be appropriate for a close friend to be hired as her assistant.
One of the worst things that can happen to any organization is for nepotism to creep into who gets what from the city.
Kearns had an obligation to advise the city that this was inappropriate – that’s what the ICD.D behind her name stands for, being ethical.
Kearns can’t say she didn’t know – she was trained to know.
We also ask why the City Manager Tim Commisso didn’t step in and direct Human Resources to have a different Administrative Assistant work for Kearns.
Recent photograph posted by Dania Thurman on social media
Add to all this the question: Is Dania Thurman the person to do the delicate job of listening to what ward 2 residents are concerned about and to work on their behalf and keep the ward Councillor fully briefed.
In comments from Gazette readers two have said they see a bigger picture. The scuttlebutt in the nail salons and hairdressing locations is that Kearns intends to run for Mayor in the 2026 municipal election and that Thurman will run for the ward 2 Council seat.
Jaws dropped when that bit of gossip got out. One well informed Gazette reader told us that the “real news” is spread at nail shops and hairdressing salons. Same thing happens in barber shops.
Is it too late for a change? Thurman started work on December 18th. She could be assigned to a different member of Council.
Is this a matter to be brought up with the university that issued the ICD.D designation?
Is there a conflict of interest?
There is certainly something behind the odour on the upper floors of City Hall.
Related news stories:
Kearns earns impressive designation
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
Sounds like Thurman has the credentials and throughout the years even if they became friends with like causes then the pick is who works best
Maybe Dania wanted a different job and applied for it, maybe Lisa wont run at all or maybe Rory is planning a ward 2 coup? All fodder for the cannon.