Baltimore City Council Considers Inspector General Access Charter Amendment

BALTIMORE — A hearing took place at Baltimore City Hall regarding a charter amendment introduced by Councilman Mark Conway, which seeks to define the records that the city's inspector general can access.

The primary issue revolves around whether the inspector general's office is governed by the Maryland Public Information Act. The office has expressed concerns that it is being held to the same standards as the general public, which they argue hampers their ability to conduct timely investigations. Inspector General Isabel Cumming stated that delays in obtaining necessary documents can extend investigations by months.

“Three months to get redacted documents that did not, would not enable us to do our investigation,” Cumming remarked, emphasizing the challenges posed by receiving documents that are not fully disclosed.

Cumming further pointed out that redacted documents prevent investigators from identifying potential fraud, as they lack the context that comes from being able to interview relevant individuals.

Mayor Brandon Scott defended his office's actions, stating that the redactions made to documents were in compliance with state law. “Our position from the beginning has been extremely clear. We took the actions that we took reluctantly, but they were necessary to ensure that the inspector general were acting within the parameters of state law,” Scott said.

The city's law department has also voiced opposition to the charter amendment, arguing it would contravene the Maryland Public Information Act. Mayor Scott reiterated the importance of adhering to state law, noting that Baltimore's open data law was established under his leadership.

For the charter amendment to become law, it must first pass out of committee and then be approved by the full city council before it reaches the mayor's desk. Should the mayor veto the amendment, the council would need to consider an override. Ultimately, Baltimore residents would have the opportunity to vote on the amendment.

Additionally, the Maryland state legislature is anticipated to address this issue in the upcoming session in Annapolis, as similar conflicts have arisen in other jurisdictions. A legal dispute between the mayor and the inspector general is currently ongoing.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR 2 News (source).