MEPA chief executive tenders resignation

MEPA CEO Ian Stafrace has tendered his resignation after having served at the helm of the Environment and Planning Authority for almost two years.

A MEPA spokesman confirmed that Chairman Vince Cassar has received Stafrace's letter.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for parliamentary secretary for planning Michael Farrugia told MaltaToday that Stafrace's resignation letter "was being considered".

Appointed by the PN administration in 2011, Labour had been a critic of his direct appointment.

Stafrace received a basic salary of €65,000 - which was set to increase to €70,000 in the second and third year of his appointment - plus a car and fuel allowance and a performance bonus of up to 15% of the salary.

Stafrace, appointed without a public call for applications, had been handling the authority's legal caseload since 2001, when the authority was embroiled in a high-profile legal feud with its chief lawyer and as a consequence, outsourced most of its legal caseload. MEPA paid Abela, Stafrace & Associates - formerly the legal firm led by President George Abela - €1.23 million for handling its caseload.  

Stafrace took over Austin Walker's duties as chief executive who was then appointed MEPA chairman.