SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Two months after a heated exchange with councillors, chief executive officer of Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), Marvalyn Pitter has been temporarily reassigned to St Catherine Municipal Corporation.

The transfer, announced at Thursday’s meeting, takes effect January 1.

Pitter told the Jamaica Observer that the move was unexpected.

“When you are a public servant, based on the Act you can be transferred [but] it is not something I was looking forward to, based on the number of developments, the achievements that I would have wanted to just wrap up here in Westmoreland. One such is the local sustainable development plan; and there are several developments coming on scene,” she said.

Pitter joined the WMC in 2019. Before that she was at Portland Municipal Corporation.

Her transfer comes on the heels of verbal sparring at the October monthly meeting over whether a meeting chaired on August 10 by Councillor Ian Myles (Jamaica Labour Party, Little London Division) was legally convened. Pitter’s initial assurance that the August meeting — at which only councillors aligned to the JLP were present — was indeed legal was rebuffed, leading to a number of sharp exchanges.

Danree Delancy (People’s National Party, Bethel Town Division) threatened a lawsuit to challenge the authenticity of the minutes prepared by Pitter.

The August meeting had been specially convened during what would have normally been the summer break, to address issues including the alleged use of expletives by Councillor Devon Thomas (PNP, Savanna-la-Mar North Division) during a heated July 13 meeting. It was at the July meeting Delancy was ousted as deputy mayor and Myles voted in.

After a letter was read on Thursday informing the council of her transfer a crestfallen Pitter said, “It is what it is. We will see what will happen until January 1. I appreciate this council very much; we have come a far way, we have had a lot of challenges, but one of my mantras is: ‘There are always lessons to be learnt.’ “

Myles rose to acknowledge her contributions to the WMC.

“She has done tremendously well. And when I speak you know I speak with that boldness, and that level of confidence, and just a genuine self that her tenure here and the services rendered was one which would have uplifted this parish,” he told the meeting.

“On behalf of the citizens of Westmoreland I want to personally acknowledge what you’ve done and say thanks. I hope that you continue to be the person that you are; continue to be that industrious person. And I’m listening for even greater things when it comes on to you. We are going to miss your presence, we’re going to miss your service, and we’re only hoping that he who is coming has prepared to walk into big shoes and fill that void,” Myles added.