(a) Qualifications for appointment.
1. In considering a candidate for the position of Inspector General, the appointing authority shall evaluate and consider any and all qualifications that are relevant to the position of Inspector General, including, but not limited to:
i. The candidate's integrity;
ii. The candidate's potential for strong leadership;
iii. The candidate's demonstrated experience and/or ability in accounting, auditing, finance, law, management analysis, public administration, investigation, criminal justice administration, or other closely related fields;
iv. The candidate's demonstrated experience and/or ability in working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the judiciary; and
v. Any other qualifications deemed relevant by the appointing authority.
2. The appointing authority's decision to appoint a particular candidate shall not under any circumstances be based in any part upon the candidate's age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation or political affiliation.
3. A qualified candidate for Inspector General shall be a person who:
i. Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
ii. Possesses demonstrated knowledge, skills, abilities and experience in conducting audits, investigations, inspections, and performance reviews; and
iii. Has at least five years of experience in any one, or a combination, of the following fields:
As an Inspector General;
As a federal law enforcement officer;
As a federal or state court judge;
As a licensed attorney with experience in the areas of audit or investigation of fraud, mismanagement, waste, corruption, or abuse of power;
As a senior-level auditor or comptroller; or
As a supervisor in an Office of Inspector General or similar investigative agency.
4. A highly qualified candidate shall be a qualified candidate who:
i. Has managed and completed complex investigations involving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, illegal acts, theft, public corruption, deception or conspiracy; or
ii. Holds an advanced degree in law, accounting, public administration, or other relevant field.
(b) Appointment and authority. The Inspector General shall be appointed for a term of four years, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section, and shall have responsibility for the operation and management of the Office of Inspector General.
(c) Reappointment. The Mayor may reappoint an incumbent Inspector General, subject to approval of the City Council, without the formation of a Selection Committee described in subsection (d) of this section. Not less than 180 days prior to the end of the Inspector General's term, the Mayor shall notify the City Council whether the Mayor will reappoint the then incumbent Inspector General.
(d) Selection process. A Selection Committee consisting of five members shall be responsible for identifying potential candidates and proposing potential candidates to the Mayor. Within 14 days after the Mayor notifies the City Council that they will not reappoint the then incumbent Inspector General, the Mayor shall select three members of the Selection Committee, and the Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, or its successor committee, shall select two members of the Selection Committee.
If the Mayor fails to timely select three members for the Selection Committee, the Mayor shall have waived such ability to select such members and the Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, or its successor committee, may select members for the remaining members of the Selection Committee within 14 days. If the Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, or its successor committee, fails to timely select two members for the Selection Committee, the Chair shall have waived such ability to select such members and the Mayor may select members for the remaining members of the Selection Committee within 14 days.
In the event of a vacancy due to the death, resignation, or removal of the incumbent Inspector General, the Mayor and Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, or its successor committee, shall select Selection Committee members in accordance with this subsection within 14 days after such vacancy has occurred.
Within 45 days of the formation of the Selection Committee, the Selection Committee shall select and engage a national executive search firm with expertise in government oversight (the "Search Firm") to perform executive search services and to create a pool of the ten most qualified candidates for the position of Inspector General, produced by the search (the "Pool"). Within two business days of selecting the Search Firm, the Selection Committee shall submit to the City Council in an official communication to be placed on file with the City Clerk the name of the Search Firm. The Search Firm shall perform its services and submit, within 60 days, the identities of the candidates which comprise the Pool, including résumés, qualifications, and statements detailing each member of the Pool's credentials for the appointment of Inspector General, to the Selection Committee. Any costs associated with the Selection Committee and the selection process under this section shall be paid for from funds duly appropriated for such purpose.
The Selection Committee shall review the credentials of Pool members, and shall, within 60 days of receipt of the Pool from the Search Firm, recommend one or more qualified persons to the Mayor, by concurrence of at least four Committee members. Within 30 days thereafter, the Mayor shall either select a candidate from the Selection Committee's recommendations, or reject the recommendations and provide the Selection Committee with a written explanation. Within 14 days after such rejection, the Selection Committee shall submit new recommendations to the Mayor from the initial pool of candidates, which shall not include any previous recommended candidate. Within 14 days thereafter, the Mayor shall either select a candidate from the recommendations or reject the recommendation and provide the Selection Committee with a written explanation. This process shall continue until the Mayor selects a candidate. The Mayor's nomination of a candidate under this subsection shall be referred to the City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight or its successor committee, for a hearing, and shall then be subject to City Council approval. If the City Council rejects the Mayor's nomination, within 14 days thereafter the Mayor shall either select a different candidate that the Selection Committee has recommended, or request that the Selection Committee provide new recommendations or have the Search Firm produce a new Pool from which to make recommendations.
If the Mayor's selection of a candidate and associated referral to the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, or its successor committee, has not occurred pursuant to the timetable set forth in the above paragraph, the Chair of the City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, or its successor committee, may make a written request to the Mayor for an explanation for the delay and a statement of intention with regard to submission of a selection. The Mayor's Office shall provide a written response to such request within 14 days.
The term of the Inspector General shall commence upon on the City Council's approval of the Mayor's appointment, and shall extend for a period of four years. No person shall serve more than eight years as Inspector General, consecutively or nonconsecutively.
(e) Interim Inspector General. In the event that the position of Inspector General is for any reason vacant, the General Counsel shall assume the role of interim Inspector General, in addition to the role of General Counsel, until a replacement Inspector General is approved by the City Council. In the event that both the positions of Inspector General and General Counsel are for any reason vacant, the Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety shall assume the role of interim Inspector General, in addition to the role of Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety, until a replacement Inspector General is approved by the City Council.
In the event of a vacancy in the positions of Inspector General, General Counsel, and Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety, the Mayor may appoint an interim Inspector General who is currently employed within the Office of Inspector General without City Council approval until a permanent selection is made. An interim Inspector General shall have all investigatory, oversight, and jurisdictional powers of the Inspector General.
(Prior code § 19-2; Added Coun. J. 10-4-89, p. 5726; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 46730, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 19348, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54984, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-23, p. 1888, § 1)