Two senior bureaucrats in Vaughan resign
It's unclear why high-level employees suddenly left their jobs in Vaughan.

TheStar.com
Feb. 20, 2015
Noor Javed

Two senior bureaucrats at the city of Vaughan suddenly resigned this week, raising questions about their departure so soon into the new council term.

In an email sent to staff on Thursday and obtained by the Star, Interim City Manager Barbara Cribbett announced the immediate resignation of city solicitor MaryLee Farrugia, and the commissioner of strategic and corporate services, Joe Pittari.

“I wish to thank both Joe and MaryLee for their service to the corporation and wish them well in their future endeavours,” said Cribbett, who is to leave her post in coming months. Her replacement was recently hired.

In an email to the Star, Cribbett said “both positions will be filled on an interim basis and projects will proceed as planned.”

The city would not answer why the two resigned, citing confidentiality.

It was an unexpected move, as both Pittari and Farrugia were hired just two years ago, under the leadership of current mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. The mayor did not respond to requests for comment.

“Those types of jobs are well-paying jobs, people don’t just up and resign,” said city-hall watcher Richard Lorello. “And I’m sure the mayor didn’t expect it. These were people he handpicked himself,” he said.

Pittari’s was hired in July 2012, with a job to “develop, organize, implement and manage a collaborative and service-focused commission. His work included developing and leading various departments such as: strategic planning, human resources, information and technology management, environmental sustainability and the new innovation and continuous improvement department.

Pittari did not respond to request for comment. Both his Facebook and LinkedIn profiles show him employed with the City of Vaughan.

In February 2013, Farrugia joined the municipality in the high-profile job of city solicitor after stints with the Ontario Realty Corporation, and the Attorney General’s office. Her role was to “serve as senior legal advisor to city council and the corporation, and oversee the legal services, real estate, clerk’s, and enforcement services departments” at the city.