Toronto's Chief Financial Officer Joe Pennachetti is on his way to heading the city's bureaucracy, after Mayor David Miller and his executive committee recommended that he replace outgoing City Manager Shirley Hoy when she leaves the city in October.
The committee made the decision late in the meeting, after hearing from several councillors who objected to the lack of any selection process in deciding to promote Pennachetti to the job that will oversee Toronto's civil service.
The committee went behind closed doors at the request of Ward 34 (Don Valley East) Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, in order that he could ask Pennachetti some questions. When the meeting moved back into the public session, however, Minnan-Wong insisted that the questions be asked again in front of press and the public, and both Mayor David Miller and Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone refused.
"I would have liked to ask some questions about what Mr. Pennachetti's vision would be as city manager - I think it's important we have a debate and discussion, and we should know what things would Mr. Pennachetti do?" said Minnan-Wong. "The residents of the City of Toronto are entitled to have a debate about who their city manager is going to be."
Ward 25 (Don Valley West) Councillor Cliff Jenkins said that while Pennachetti has proven himself, council should avail itself of a broader search.
"Mr. Pennachetti by unanimous agreement is an outstanding candidate, a terrific person and would do an excellent job, but we're deprived of the ability to test his qualifications," said Jenkins. "The process has been significantly changed and not in an open way."
Miller, however, defended his recommendation.
"He's the right candidate because he's perfectly qualified," said Miller. "He knows our budget and our fiscal situation better than anyone in the world except myself and the current city manager who probably know it as well. And people don't run for city manager. People run for the mayor and council� And he represents a continuity at an important time for this city when we have important initiatives underway, when we need the continuity. I have absolute confidence in Mr. Pennachetti and I think the members of the public would understand that the mayor needs to have confidence in the city manager of this city."
The matter will go before Toronto Council at the end of the month.