Halifax's chief administrative officer has told council she intends to retire, a move that comes after a tenure of less than three years as the municipality's top bureaucrat.

In an interview, Cathie O'Toole said the job of CAO is a rewarding but demanding one. While she has enjoyed the work, she said she has "paid my dues" in municipal public service. She said she will likely leave in October, about mid-way into her five-year contract.

Her impending departure comes as Mayor Andy Fillmore publicly…