Nutter launches probe into reports that L&I is lax on demolition site scrutiny

Mayor Michael Nutter has ordered his inspector general to delve into possible issues at the city’s Department of Licenses & Inspections.

The mayor said Monday that a published report that demolition site inspections are not taking place troubles him — and he wants to know if the claims are true.

“Reading information with a certain level of detail that public employees are not doing their jobs is completely unacceptable, will not be tolerated,” he said.

Inspector General Amy Kurland could not venture a guess on how long it would take to review the allegations.

“Our process is very different, depending on the investigation and right now all we have are allegations,” she said. “Until we start interviewing people, looking at what documents corroborate those allegations, we’ll have to take it from there.”

The city mandated tougher regulation of demolition sites in the wake of the 2013 fatal Center City building collapse. 

“If people are not doing their jobs, regardless of what department  but especially one of whose main missions certainly is public safety, then there are very serious consequences to come, should I still be here when that report comes in,” Nutter said.

 Nutter’s term end in January.

Likely successor Jim Kenney has pledged, if elected, to replace the department’s head.