# Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight meeting, March 18, 2025

- When: Tue, Mar 18, 2025, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/ethics-and-government-oversight)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928512/video/1064398283
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1064398283.txt) (18,288 words, official captions)

## Meeting notes

> AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, chaired by Alderperson Matthew J. Martin, approved its January 2025 Rule 45 report and held two subject matter hearings with Inspector General Deborah Witzburg. On the OIG's fourth quarter 2024 report, the Inspector General described 10 sustained administrative investigations, including a Public Building Commission commissioner whose ethics code provides no sanctions, a follow-up review of CPD's post-firearm-discharge policy, and inconsistencies in city firearms and workplace violence policies; members asked about PBC accountability, personnel rules coverage, intake volume, Shakman-exempt job qualifications and firearms policy. On the OIG advisory regarding water main and sewer separation, the Inspector General said more than 1,200 non-compliant locations have been reported to the Illinois EPA and urged greater public transparency and education on boil orders, while Department of Water Management officials said the water supply is safe and described testing, pressure monitoring and corrective work. No votes were taken on the subject matter items; five people spoke during public comment.

Topics: Inspector General quarterly report, Public Building Commission ethics, personnel rules, water main and sewer separation, boil orders, CPD post-firearm discharge policy, public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [33:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=2025) Approval of the January 2025 Rule 45 report: passed
- [34:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=2043) Subject matter hearing on the OIG quarterly report for the fourth quarter of 2024: discussed
- [1:17:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4672) Subject matter hearing on the OIG advisory concerning non-compliant separation of water mains and sewers: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (chair): Asked for an update on the timeline for the ineligible-for-rehire policy review and requested a memo on which personnel rules apply to which entities and whether legislation may be needed. ([1:07:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4044)); Asked whether the OIG audit plan was finalized and invited budget-related recommendations. ([1:17:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4646)); Asked about the 2021 agreement with the Illinois EPA and the department's progress toward compliance by 2026. ([1:56:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=6961))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Asked what came out of the OIG's audits of hiring sequences in three departments. ([55:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=3301))
- [Scott Waguespack](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/32) (alderperson): Asked what consequences exist when a PBC commissioner fails to cooperate and who appoints and oversees the PBC board. ([55:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=3344)); Raised difficulties with some elected police district council members he said violated ethics rules and asked who is responsible for enforcing change. ([1:00:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=3627)); Asked whether all non-compliant work was done by the former contractor and what Illinois separation standards require. ([1:51:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=6697))
- [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Asked what share of OIG intakes become investigations and how the office handles repeated complaints from the same individuals. ([1:09:29](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4169)); Noted the retirement of a Board of Ethics staff member and suggested colleagues thank her. ([1:12:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4362)); Questioned the concern about boil order timing, saying his experience with DWM communication has been good, and asked how residents should be notified. ([1:45:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=6316))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Asked for documentation of minimum job qualifications for Shakman-exempt positions and whether those positions are always non-union. ([1:13:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4390)); Said the city firearms policy should be clear and asked whether non-police city employees may carry firearms at work. ([1:14:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4475)); Asked how often elected officials under investigation bring attorneys and whether the Law Department sits in on OIG interviews. ([1:15:56](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=4556))
- [Matthew J. O'Shea](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/19) (alderperson): Said the Roseland pumping station event was an explosion in century-old equipment and urged continued investment in pumping stations and pipes. ([1:49:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=6541)); Said alderpersons should engage with DWM and OEMC to get information out quickly during such events. ([1:51:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=6672))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:54:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=6879) Alderperson Scott Waguespack referred to the point Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea made about infrastructure work.
- [2:03:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C?t=7394) The chair cited Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea point about prioritizing core infrastructure during budget season.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/4997024e-47f9-ef11-9341-001dd804a1c8.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/50e0e173-8119-48c2-9f25-032fb025f37f.pdf)
- [Monthly Rule 45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/1f998f56-b637-4674-a956-9380429b4642.docx)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/ff58bd8e-fe76-4a3d-81bf-a2e58d424ef3.docx)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E218F02B-47F9-EF11-9341-001DD804A37C · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt