TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto city council voted, Monday, to change the composition of the Toronto Transit Commission.

The new TTC board will have seven councillors and four citizens, which was a motion put forward by TTC chair Karen Stintz.

After a vote the following councillors were chosen to be on the new TTC board: Ramond Cho by 30 votes, John Parker by 26 votes,  Karen Stintz by 26 votes, Josh Colle by 37 votes, Peter Milczyn by 37 votes, Maria Augimeri by 26 votes and Glenn de Baeremaeker by 26 votes.

Karen Stintz was re-elected as TTC chair. She beat out Peter Milczyn by a vote of 24 to 19.

The debate drew a lot of spirited debate at city hall.

City manager Joe Pennachetti had recommended a mix of five citizens and four councillors.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said council should be accepting the city manager’s report, because  everything else is political.

“People want to change the board to get their friends on, others want to take control so that this side of council will be able to have the say,” Pennachetti said. “Let’s put this forward in the best interests of the taxpayers and the best interests of the users of the TTC.”

Councillor Michael Thompson had proposed replacing all nine councillors with nine private citizens, no politicians.

“A citizen commission would enable us to bring a higher, stable level of expertise and leadership to the TTC,” councillor Michael Thompson said.

 Citizen candidates will be appointed in fall.