By Pepper Parr
February 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We now know why the Special Council meeting that took place on the 14th – was not webcast – the Gazette has been digging into that and we will report what we have learned later today. The way the city handled the Special Council meeting is the kind of thing that has to be taken to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The news that Hassaan Basit has been appointed the next City Manager was a bit of a surprise but also great news for the City.
What appears to have put Council into a real tizzy is that the current city manager Tim Commisso, wanted out – now. That got resolved at the Special Meeting.
The City Councillors had made up their mind on who they wanted in place and with that information in hand Tim Commisso felt he could leave the job.
He was a principled enough bureaucrat to stay on the job no matter how uncomfortable it may have been.
Mayor’s do not do what Meed Ward did to Tim – he didn’t deserve it and it wasn’t called for.
Hassaan Basit is a fine administrator. He did very good work at the Conservation Halton.
Gerry Smallegange, Chair of the Conservation Halton Board, put it perfectly when he expressed gratitude and extended congratulations to Hassaan:
“On behalf of the Conservation Halton Board, I want to congratulate Hassaan Basit on his new position with the City of Burlington. Hassaan has been an invaluable leader during his eight-year tenure as President and CEO of Conservation Halton, and nearly two decades of dedicated service with the organization. His departure is a significant loss — Hassaan is widely respected as an engaging and transformative leader, guiding Conservation Halton through challenging times, as evidenced during the complexities of the pandemic and an ever-changing regulatory landscape.
“His visionary approach has left an indelible mark. He redefined Conservation Halton’s business model, shaping two ground-breaking strategic plans that have not only elevated our business outcomes — providing financial stability and growth — but also fostered a positive organizational culture, instilling a growth and innovation mindset, collaborative problem-solving, and continuous learning.
Gerry got that right.
Related news stories:
The Mayor and the City Manager
The first look at Hassaan when he was appointed President & CAO at Conservation Halton
