Role of Office of the Inspector General Advisory Board

In May 2022, a Resolution was introduced to the Baltimore City Council for the purpose of altering the method by which individuals are selected to be members of the advisory board that appoints the Inspector General. At that time, the AdvisoryBoard was composed of elected officials or their designees, the City Solicitor, and two law school deans. Its primary purpose was to remove potential conflicts of interest given the jurisdiction of the Office of the Inspector General.

The Resolution would require the new makeup of the Board to eliminate all current elected officials or City employees from the Board. The new Board would continue to have the two Law School Deans as well as seven Baltimore City residents from 7 of the 14 City Districts. In addition, the new Board would have a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Public Accountant from the residents of Baltimore City.

Advisory Board Handbook

Appoint

Appoint an Inspector General without regard to political affiliation with substantial experience in law, auditing, financial analysis, criminal justice law, management analysis, accounting, and investigations, or another appropriate field.

Budget

Approve or Revise the proposed budget submitted by the Inspector General for the purpose of assessing and determining whether the proposed budget provides sufficient funding to meet the duties of the Office.

Performance 

Review the performance of the Inspector General at least once annually and appear before the City Council at least once a year to provide the City Council with an overview of the activities of the advisory board and the Office of the Inspector General.

Removal

Remove the Inspector General from office by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the advisory board for misconduct in office,
persistent failure to perform the duties of the office, or conduct prejudicial to the proper administration of justice.

Vancancy

Whenever the Office of the Inspector General remains vacant for 180 days, or the Inspector General is incapacitated or otherwise unable to
perform the duties of the office for 180 days, the Chair of the advisory board shall issue a report to the City Council on the 180th day, and every 2 months thereafter until the vacancy is filled or the Inspector General reports to work, describing the status of the efforts to fill the vacancy or the status of the absent Inspector General.