KEVIN COOK / FOR THE TIMES
Philadelphians shouldn’t take the city’s Office of the Inspector General for granted. Despite its key role as the leading investigator of fraud, waste and corruption within municipal government, there is no guarantee that it will still be around next year, next week or even tomorrow.
“The office can be dissolved by the stroke of a pen,” said Deputy Inspector General Alexander DeSantis, a guest speaker during the monthly meeting of the Somerton Civic Association on May 12.
Mayor Wilson Goode established the OIG by executive order in 1984. So the office is not guaranteed by the city charter or by an ordinance in the city code. Inspector General Amy Kurland, a former federal prosecutor, serves exclusively at the pleasure of the sitting mayor.
On the other hand, the OIG seems safe for the time being. Mayor Michael Nutter reaffirmed its mission, powers and duties by executive order last year.
According to DeSantis, the OIG operates with a $1.5 million annual budget and recovers many times that amount each year in misappropriated funds. The office’s three areas of focus are “administrative case” investigations involving suspected misconduct of municipal employees; joint investigations with police and federal agents of suspected criminal wrongdoing by municipal employees; and “policy and compliance” investigations of outside entities that benefit from municipal contracts or grants. Among other tools, the OIG has the power to subpoena official records.
The OIG receives about 600 complaints per year, DeSantis said. Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspected misconduct involving municipal officers or employees, quasi-city agencies, city contractors or other beneficiaries of city funds. Complaints could involve a city worker doing personal business while on the clock, the theft of public property or misuse of public facilities or a contractor overbilling the city for goods or services.
Visit www.phila.gov/ig to file a complaint or call 215–686–1770.
In unrelated Somerton Civic business:
• Lt. Steve Gonzales of the 7th Police District reported that officers have been issuing illegal parking tickets to large trucks in the Leo Mall parking lot. Neighbors have complained that dozens of trucks have been using the lot for overnight parking. SCA President Seth Kaplan added that he has been in contact with the shopping center owner about the problem. The owner said he doesn’t want the trucks to park there, either.
• Kaplan reported that the owner of a home on Selma Street has withdrawn a zoning application for the legalization of a futuristic-looking dome structure in the backyard.
• City Councilman Brian O’Neill invited residents to attend a free document-shredding event on June 6 at his newest district office behind the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, at 432 Rhawn St. The time is 9 a.m. to noon.
• An aide to state Rep. Martina White reported that White’s new district office at Bustleton Avenue and Avon Street should be open by Friday, May 22. In the meantime, call her Harrisburg office at 717–787–6740 for constituent services.
• An aide to U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle said that Boyle’s new Olney office will be opening in the coming weeks, joining his existing district offices in Glenside and at 2375 Woodward St., Suite 105, in the Northeast.
• Kaplan encouraged the community to patronize the new Far Northeast Farmer’s Market, which will open each Saturday from spring to fall at Walker Lodge 306, 1290 Southampton Road. In addition to fresh, regionally grown produce, the outdoor market features prepared foods, music and a social family atmosphere. Organizers, community leaders and elected officials held a ceremonial ribbon cutting last Saturday. ••
In other Somerton Civic news: The new Far Northeast Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays at Walker Lodge 306, 1290 Southampton Road. Greg Bickel (pictured above) participated in last week’s market. KEVIN COOK / FOR THE TIMES
