The individual in charge of managing Yonge-Dundas Square says he’s resigning over last week’s city council vote to rename the downtown landmark.

Mike Fenton has sent a letter to the head of council’s civic appointments committee.

In it, he says city council’s December 14th decision to rename Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square gave the public and the board no opportunity to weigh in on this critical decision for city residents.

Fenton also says he supports the city’s effort to find a new name for Yonge-Dundas Square, part of a wider push to strip municipal assets named after the 18th century Scottish politician Henry Dundas, who’s stance on slavery remains unclear.

Fenton’s resignation is being called “a surprise” by Councillor Chris Moise who represents the city ward which includes Yonge-Dundas Square.

A 20-member committee, which included black and indigenous leaders, was supposed to draft a shortlist of new names to be presented for public consultation this fall, before going to council for final approval early in the new year.

Instead, members of the renaming advisory committee decide on the name Sankofa Square the day before the most recent city council meeting.