‘Big shoes to fill,’ Onorio Colucci takes his seat as CAO

Windsor has a new chief administrative officer, but he says not much will change in how the city runs.

Former chief financial officer and treasurer Onorio Colucci was named CAO in January. His appointment followed Helga Reidel’s decision in December to become CEO of Enwin Utilities. He assumed the position April 1.

His first official day in council chambers, however, was a contrast to what he expects the rest of his time in the seat will be.

“It’s a little bit like my first meeting on training wheels,” said Colucci, after a meeting that lasted about 20 minutes. “I’m sure they’ll be off next meeting.”

The man most often known as “O.C.” worked as a chartered accountant for the accounting firm now known as KPMG before starting work at the city in 1984.
Despite his focus on finance over the past 31 years, he acknowledged his new role has a much wider scope.

“We’re a very diverse corporation and so all the departments have specific issues,” said Colucci, 58.

“Having been here 31 years I’m certainly familiar with most of them and we’ll work closely with the various departments and managers to learn even more.”

Mayor Drew Dilkens said Colucci’s experience combined with financial knowledge made him the perfect fit.

“Certainly after 31 years he’s the person with the most institutional memory and corporate knowledge of the City of Windsor, so he’s the right guy at the right time,” said Dilkens.

Ward 8 Coun. Bill Marra has worked with four different CAOs, including Colucci, while on council. He said Colucci “stood to the challenge” as treasurer during the economic crisis in 2008.

He added Colucci has a good reputation.

“He’s a man who’s deemed to be a very ethical man, very values-based,” said Marra.

“He doesn’t sugar-coat things. He’s a very candid and honest man, full of integrity.”

Though he wants to continue the work Reidel started, Colucci said he will still bring his own way of doing things.

“I think the city is in really good shape these days so I don’t foresee dramatic changes,” said Colucci.

“There may be a tweak here or there as things progress but it’s largely status quo for now. I think we want to continue to provide the best services we can for the residents at the cheapest possible price.”

Dilkens said he has faith Colucci will have little issue bringing his own voice to the table.

“He’ll find ways to be Onorio Colucci that are automatically different than Helga Reidel and he’s got big shoes to fill,” said Dilkens.

“But he’s got a bit of a different personality so you’ll see that come out in certain decision-making and the way he approaches things as well.”

Colucci said he’s looking forward to being involved in upcoming projects during his term, including the new city hall project, but it won’t end there. He said, in his experience, as soon as one project ends, another begins.

“There’s never a dull moment.”