By Pepper Parr
August 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Clerk Samantha Yew is reported to have resigned.
Samantha Yew is reported to have resigned as the City Clerk. Another good one getting away.
A usually reliable source said: “She was expected to be back to work today, I tried to reach her at her extension and the voice mail prompts made no mention of a name.
“I got back to the operator and asked for the second in command (that’s Lisa Palermo)
“I just got off the phone with Kelvin Galbraith and he confirmed that she has tendered her resignation.
“He did expect to see her at the special council meeting this week.”
Yew did very creditable work; correcting a lot of the mistakes made by her predecessors.
The City communications group are observing what has become ‘radio silence’.
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I would not be surprised to see an announcement that Ms. Yew has joined Basit’s crew at the Province. This has probably been in play for some time – just like Basit’s departure.
Interesting that “interim” CAO, Curt Benson’s, substantive position as Commissioner of Commissioner, Development & Growth Managemen, has already been filled by Steve Robichaud from Hamilton. These moves have been in play for awhile.
Bit of a stretch to call the resignation part of a mass exodus. There certainly are problems- nice that someone finally called out the City Solicitor.
Another Clerk gone! The mass exodus in Burlington city hall continues, especially by senior staff. Very telling.
Toxic work environment = failure of leadership
I also doubt staff like working for certain mayors with strong mayor powers. Remember it was the staff exits that likely led to a majority of our council members bringing forward a motion that the mayor return to the duly-elected councillors the undemocratic powers relating to hiring and firing the CAO and senior staff. Shamefully, the mayor refused to do so.
Can you blame hrt. Surprised she lasted this long. She would have been a great Clerk best we have had in a long time. However, she wasn’t ‘allowed to do her job particularly by the City Solicitor. In all my years of observing Councilwe have never seen the city lawyer restrict the Clerk’s powers as he did.
The job is posted on the city’s careers page. That means she put in her notice at least 2 weeks ago but it was likely longer than that.