Not Letting Up On Toronto Silly Hall

Give property owners recall legislation and they would be more likely to give mayor more "power."

More power than he needs Mayor Miller says he needs to be able to hire his own city manager. Problem is, he just did

By SUE-ANN LEVY

Please try to follow the latest act of twisted logic from Socialist Silly Hall as I'm certainly having trouble doing so.

For more than six months now Mayor David Miller has been yapping incessantly about his quest for new "strong mayor powers" to hire, fire and direct the city manager, and to allow his powerful executive committee (of like-minded socialist soldiers) to meet cabinet-style behind closed doors.

He's even stated publicly, on more than one occasion, his intentions to ask Premier Dalton McGuinty to amend the City of Toronto Act to grant him these powers.

Yet just three days ago, His Blondness, without skipping a beat, announced his intention to do what he's said he cannot do without provincial approval -- appoint (i.e., hire) a new city manager -- current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Joe Pennachetti -- to replace Shirley Hoy when she leaves the city Oct. 6.

When asked why the city is not going through a recruitment process for the $311,000 job -- as they should under council procedural rules -- the mayor contended Pennachetti is "uniquely qualified to lead the city" and to ensure continuity.

"The work to implement my mandate must continue," Miller said. "Joe Pennachetti is certainly the right candidate to implement my mandate."

(My, my, my ... what's all this talk of me, me, me? Methinks King David grows ever more arrogant and hungry for power by the day.)

My criticism is in no way aimed at Pennachetti.

I believe he's a hardworking, no-nonsense and able administrator who is "uniquely qualified."

He particularly earned my respect last June when he calmly took the heat from residents who attended the four "consultation" sessions on the new City of Toronto Act taxes -- while the mayor and his cowardly minions chose not to show their faces.

Nevertheless, without a proper recruitment process, we'll never know whether there are other candidates as "uniquely qualified" who could bring a fresh perspective to a steadily sinking city.

"It's a lost opportunity to see who's out there that could infuse new blood, bring new ideas," notes Coun. Mike Del Grande.

That said, given the mayor's decision of earlier this week, I'm not sure what additional powers he seeks that he doesn't already have, without being called to account.

ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY

Oops, I should not have used the word "power", even though Miller has on many occasions in recent months. After all, the mayor told us earlier this week that he has "never" sought power.

"This is not about David Miller," he said. "This is about accountability, it's about building prosperity in Toronto, it's about making the city liveable, it's about bringing opportunity to every neighbourhood."

(Insert laugh track here.)

But seriously, no one is really duped by Miller's apparently ever-changing story.

While he said Pennachetti's appointment depends on the approval of his handpicked executive committee in September, we know that's a foregone conclusion.

Miller has also backed into a corner councillors who might quite legitimately question the hiring process, or rather, the complete lack of one.

After all, they'll have to work with the city manager when all is said and done.

Whether the mayor has the powers he seeks, or not -- I'd argue that he already does -- he intends to do what he darn well pleases, knowing he has bullied enough councillors and six-figure bureaucrats into seeing the world his way.

And I'm guessing his executive committee already effectively meets in secret to receive its marching orders. After all, they forever seem to be in lockstep, whenever it comes to commenting or voting on any major issue of importance to Miller.

CALL FOR REVIEW

Coun. Michael Thompson, who's spearheaded a group of nine councillors asking that the City of Toronto Act be reviewed, said the mayor "cherrypicks" what powers he wants to act on while claiming he doesn't have others so he can't be held accountable.

"As I look at it now, all that he is asking for (in the way of powers), he already has," said Thomspon. "We now have proof he can and should be held accountable."

Coun. Karen Stintz agrees this week's decision proves the mayor has already taken it "upon himself" to implement a strong mayor system.

"Councillors have been completely left out of the entire discussion," she said.

Stintz added this is typical of Miller's style. "The mayor just wants what he wants and he goes out and does it," she said. "The discussion of whether the mayor should have more powers is moot."