Outgoing Mount Pearl CAO Dana Spurrell during her four-year tenure at City Hall guided the City through a workplace harassment investigation, the pandemic, a union strike, and, more recently, the city-wide fear caused by random, violent attacks allegedly committedly by a group of Mount Pearl youths. Members of council praised her for her calm demeanor in the face of challenges. Mark Squibb photo
By Mark Squibb
Cool, calm and collected.
Those were some of the words used by Mount Pearl councillors to describe outgoing Mount Pearl Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dana Spurrell, and given some of the municipal quandaries Spurrell has had to lead the City through during her four years tenure, they were good qualities to possess for someone in her position.
Spurrell was hired in January of 2021, seven months after former CAO Steve Kent quit his position after having been suspended due to allegations of workplace bullying. Kent quit the position before council had cast an official vote on whether to fire him outright. Shortly after, councillors Andrea Power and Andrew Ledwell were dismissed from council for allegedly communicating with Kent inappropriately during the imbroglio.
On top of all that, the province entered it’s second COVD-19 lockdown on February 12 — Spurrell’s first week in office.
In 2022 Spurrell had to lead the City through a workplace strike that lasted nearly two months and occasionally turned ugly, with accusations of wrongdoing flying from all sides. And in the final weeks before her departure, the City has been rocked by a number of random, violent acts allegedly committed by youths that have left members of the community on edge.
“Talk about a baptism by fire,” said councillor Jim Locke. “Your tenure at the City was bookended by challenges… you have faced challenges, no doubt, but you always handled it with calm and poise.”
Locke said that Spurrell’s calmness in the face of adversity was a superpower, and that the City staff blossomed under her leadership. He wished her all the best with her future endeavours.
Deputy Mayor Nicole Kiely, who was elected to council in September 2021, said Spurrell made her feel welcome at the municipal table.
“You have led by example, and I know, for one, that I am a better councillor because of your guidance and leadership,” said Kieley.
Mayor Dave Aker said Spurrell was the perfect person to lead the City the last four years.
“Your leadership was second to none,” said Aker, who added that anybody on staff would back up his claim.
After a round of accolades and well wishes from council, Spurrell herself took a few minutes to address council and staff.
“If nicer words are ever said about me, it’ll probably be when I’m dead, so thank you all,” quipped Spurrell. “Councillor Locke caused me to reflect a little bit. My first day, I had a cell phone, with no contacts, and I was home at my dining room table in the middle of a shut down. And maybe that was a sign, because if nothing else I’ve been steeped in crisis management.”
Spurrell said that as a work family, City staff and council have experienced weddings and funerals and births and deaths together over the last four years, and through it all have carried on the work of the City. She called it a privilege to lead the City these last four years, and expressed her thanks to staff and council both.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve done to position the City for growth and change,” said Spurrell.
She added that her massage therapist might disagree with council’s assessment of Spurrell as calm and collected.
