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Shuffling Among Nutter Appointments

Mayor Nutter unveiled some shuffling among his senior personnel Friday, notably announcing that Thomas Knudsen, who was named to the newly created post of chief revenue officer in April, would be leaving the administration.

Knudsen, lauded for saving the Philadelphia Gas Works from the brink of bankruptcy during his decade-long tenure there, was appointed to the new post amid the rancor over the city's effort to create a new property tax system. He was given authority over all city departments that collect taxes, fees, fines, or any other form of payment, and tasked with improving the city's traditionally dismal collection rates.

His responsibilities will pass to Revenue Commissioner Clarena I. W. Tolson, who was named commissioner when Knudsen came aboard. At the time, some Council members questioned the need for Knudsen's position, since the revenue commissioner is responsible for collecting most of the city's taxes.

Nutter said Friday that Knudsen's position was always meant to be temporary.

"Thanks to Tom's hard work, we have now reached the point at which we can successfully combine both responsibilities," the mayor said in statement.

Nutter also solidified two other high level appointments Friday, naming Acting Streets Commissioner David Perri as the permanent commissioner, and Brian Abernathy, the interim executive director of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, as the permanent head of that body.

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