CITY HALL — A City Council committee backed expanding the inspector general's duties to oversee the Public Building Commission Monday, as a powerful alderman suggested the current watchdog was soaking taxpayers.
Without opposition, the Budget Committee backed a move to give Inspector General Joseph Ferguson the power to oversee the dealings of the Public Building Commission. The proposed ordinance would place the Office of the Inspector General in charge of commission probes next year, after a two-year, $325,000 contract expires with the Vander Weele Group.
The Better Government Association supported the shift in duties, as did all aldermen.
"I think this is a good move," said Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd).
Yet Ald. Edward Burke (14th) couldn't resist a few parting shots at the outgoing watchdog.
Prodded by Burke to reveal the Vander Weele Group's workload, Ilyas Lakada, the commission's deputy director of legal affairs, said it had "closed out" a dozen investigations over two years.
"Six a year," Burke said. Informed that it also submitted quarterly reports, Burke did the math and arrived at one and a half probes per quarter, adding, "I don't imagine it's a very lengthy report, is it?"
Jeffrey Levine, of the city Law Department, said the shift in duties would "result in efficiencies and cost savings." He said the commission would pay the city $200,000 a year for the inspector general's services overseeing what's termed a "sister agency."
"There will be no overlap," Levine said, in that the inspector general would assume the duties when the Vander Weele Group's contract expires at the end of the year.
The proposal now heads for the full City Council, which is expected to approve it Wednesday.
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