City council opposes letting inspector general probe council matters

    Philadelphia City Council will discuss expanding the scope of Office of Inspector General today. Council wants to make the office independent and expand its oversight to include row offices. But it stops short of other elected offices.

    Philadelphia City Council will discuss expanding the scope of Office of Inspector General today. Council wants to make the office independent and expand its oversight to include row offices. But it stops short of other elected offices.

    Whyy’s Susan Phillips reports. [audio:100312SPOIG.mp3]

    The Inspector General’s job is to root out corruption among city employees. But the bill exempts Council members and their staff from scrutiny.

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    Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. says it’s the employees under the Mayor’s authority who need oversight, not council members.

    Goode: Generally City Council doesn’t have the authority that exists within the executive branch. We don’t do contracting, we don’t approve contracting, we don’t give out money. So the waste, fraud and abuse is generally associated with the executive branch.

    Goode says any wrong-doing on the part of Council members and their staff would be investigated by the District Attorney’s office.

    Mayor Nutter would not comment on whether he thinks the Inspector General’s office should have jurisdiction over City Council.

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