City of Toronto ombudsman Fiona Crean will find out later this week if she will be appointed to a second term. City of Toronto ombudsman Fiona Crean will find out later this week if she will be appointed to a second term. (City of Toronto)

It was a peculiar day at Toronto City Council on Tuesday with a debate on whether or not to let everyone go home early on Halloween overshadowing other important council business.

In one vote council decided to approve the sale of 55 Toronto Community Housing homes to help pay for the huge repair backlog.

Mayor Rob Ford said he sees this as "just the beginning. Let's get these houses sold. Hopefully we can sell more."

But maybe the most intense part of the day was reserved for a debate over whether council should appoint Fiona Cream to a second term as the city's ombudsman.

Crean raised the ire of the mayor and his supporters earlier this month when she declared Ford's office exerted undue influence on the appointment process to the city's boards and commissions.

"It's becoming political, and for that reason I don't think she should be reappointed," said Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti.

Mammoliti is part of a group of councillors including the mayor who want to see Crean replaced.

Coun. Pam McConnell agreed with Mammoliti that the decision was "political" but said "to suggest this is political is not untrue, except it's a political move to remove her because the mayor and the mayor's colleagues do not like what she's written.

In the end council voted overwhelmingly — 41 to 3 — to extend Crean's term for another two years,

Oh, and council did vote to approve an early day on Wednesday.

They'll be heading home at 4:30 p.m. so they can enjoy Halloween.