City Fires 6 of Its 10 Utility Workers After Drug Testing

MORGAN HILL, Calif. — Six of this town’s 10 remaining public utility workers have been fired after testing positive for illegal drugs, city officials said Tuesday.

Another employee, senior utility worker Gary Della Vecchia, 29, was fired two weeks ago after he was arrested for allegedly possessing methamphetamines for sale, authorities said.

City Personnel Director Dave Milheim did not identify the six fired workers or the drugs reportedly involved.

The drug tests followed a six-month investigation sparked by complaints from citizens and former city workers, he said. Milheim said the city had already arranged to test applicants for three new positions in the Utilities Department and now will simply hire more than three of the applicants.