Richmond Hill names new city manager 4 months after abrupt departure of former top staffer

Mary-Anne Dempster joined city as commissioner of corporate and financial services in September 2017

Yorkregion.com
June 17, 2020
Sheila Wang

Four months after the mysterious departure of Richmond Hill’s former city manager, Mary-Anne Dempster has picked up the baton.

Mayor Dave Barrow announced in a press release June 12 that the city has appointed Dempster -- interim city manager since February -- as the new city manager.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Mary-Anne over the past several years and I have come to know her as a dedicated and experienced public servant with a clear commitment to the city, its staff and our residents,” the mayor said.

Dempster, who joined the city as commissioner of corporate and financial services in September 2017, has been serving as the interim city manager immediately after her predecessor Neil Garbe left the position on Feb. 13 with no reason provided

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Garbe’s departure came one day after he had public interactions with councillors at a council meeting about preserving the Jefferson Schoolhouse where Coun. Greg Beros expressed dissatisfaction over his responses to questions.

Dempster has been leading the city’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheaded a number of initiatives including enhancing front line services at the public libraries, and transforming the city’s technologies, according to the press release.

She has been playing an active role for the past four months, from making presentations on the city's recovery framework, to issuing statements about temporary layoffs due to COVID-19, to answering questions at council meetings.

Two days before her appointment, Dempster made a recommendation to hold off on a proposal intended for building an age friendly community when Coun. Greg Beros who moved to refer it back to staff consulted her for clarification.

“I’d like to thank Council for their support, particularly through the recent challenges brought about by COVID-19. I am intensely proud of the efforts of our dedicated staff who provide valued services to the public every day and I am excited about our possibilities for the future,” the new city manager said in a press release.

Before coming to Richmond Hill, Dempster served as the corporate and financial services director for the City of Kawartha Lakes and as an internal auditor and consultant with the Province of New Brunswick.

She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a graduate degree in business administration with a focus on human resources and marketing.