Skip to content

Another top city official leaves

NNSL photoDennis Marchiori of the City of Yellowknife,
Dennis Marchiori: Second top city official resigns as administration presses ahead with inquiry into workplace allegations against subordinate Doug Gillard.

Another top city official is calling it quits as the terms of reference into potential misconduct expand to include allegations of improper use of close-circuit cameras by bylaw manager Doug Gillard.

Richard McIntosh, a communications officer with the city, confirmed Thursday that director of public safety Dennis Marchiori has resigned, a little more than a week after Dennis Kefalas, director of public works, announced his own departure.

Dennis Marchiori: Second top city official resigns as administration presses ahead with inquiry into workplace allegations against subordinate Doug Gillard.

Kefalas and Marchiori's last days are May 11 and May 14 respectively.

Both senior officials' resignations come on the cusp of a city decision to expand an inquiry dealing directly with how allegations against Gillard were handled.

Kefalas, who was the senior administrator at the city at the time, handled a 2014 complaint by former municipal enforcement officer Shayne Pierson that alleged workplace sexual misconduct and physical abuse by Gillard. Marchiori was Gillard's boss at the time of the alleged misconduct and remains so. It is unclear, however, what role, if any, Marchiori had in disciplinary action taken against Gillard.

Pierson, who was fired by Gillard in 2014, alleged his former boss bullied bylaw officers by spitting on their sunglasses and hitting them in the groin. The former officer also accused him of making derogatory sexual comments about female city employees.

Emails by Kefalas stolen from the city and later leaked to media indicate the city investigated Pierson's complaint and took disciplinary action against Gillard but it remains unknown whether his superiors were aware of other issues, including an allegation revealed earlier this year that Gillard used cameras at the library to look at women.

Pierson sent an email to Yellowknifer earlier this year he said was from Kefalas, telling him his allegations against Gillard were unfounded.

The city has ordered an inquiry to look at how Pierson's complaint was handled, which was expanded Monday at city council's insistence to investigate whether there was “inappropriate use/access of security cameras.”

The inquiry, however, does not have subpoena powers so it remains to be seen how effective it will be now that two key people have resigned.

City councillor Adrian Bell had pushed for camera use to be added to the terms of reference.

The departure of Kefalas and Marchiori should not preclude the inquiry from going forward, said Bell in an interview with Yellowknifer.

“To me that does not compromise the inquiry,” said Bell.

The inquiry is a “review of the past, by an expert. There is a lot of work that the investigator can do, regardless of the participation of a couple individuals,” he said.

Council has not met yet to discuss the implications the resignations might have on the inquiry, said Bell.

Regardless of whether Gillard's boss is present, “it's important to proceed,” said Bell.

“A lot of what the inquiry is looking at does not depend on the participation of the parties.”

Gillard is still employed by the city as its manager of municipal enforcement.

Former MED supervisory constable Doug Norrad, who was fired by Gillard in 2012, questioned why Gillard has not been put on paid leave until the inquiry wraps up.

“People with senior management positions are taking off as the inquiry unfolds. It's not a criminal matter and they're not obligated to come forward at all,” said Norrad.

The optics of both senior departures are unflattering, he said.

“They've all been under fire for the last six months and there is no reason why senior positions are just running. The bottom line is its not making the city look good when you have people running as the inquiry is starting up,” said Norrad.