Water District Board Adopts Cook County Independent Inspector General Ordinance

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
April 18, 2019               

What did the Board decide?

Agenda Item 019-003 - Adoption of Cook County Independent Inspector General Ordinance for services to the MWRD

• Discussion of the proposed Inspector General ordinance centered on who will receive summary reports from investigations, including an investigation of an individual commissioner. The Cook County ordinance sends them to the “chair and applicable personnel.” 
• Commissioners Shore and Davis were concerned that confidentiality be protected and that the report not be distributed to the entire board. Patrick Blanchard, head of the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General, gave assurances that only the Board president, applicable personnel, and the involved individual would receive the report. Indeed, the individual under scrutiny would need to submit a written request before the report could be released. Blanchard also assured the commissioners that the quarterly reports, sent to the entire board, would have no identifying information that would cause a breach in confidentiality. 
• Commissioner McGowan expressed concern that the term, “chair and applicable personnel,” was too general. MWRD counsel stated that there was specific language in the ordinance delineating precisely who was on the list to receive information.
• Public Comment: Representatives of four organizations made statements in support of the ordinance: League of Women Voters of Cook County, the Civic Federation, the Better Government Association (BGA), and Reform Illinois.
• Before the final vote, all commissioners went on record with their full support for the role of the Independent Inspector General and the importance of transparency in government. The final vote accepted the Cook County ordinance without amendments.  Vote: 9 ayes    0 nays

Agenda Item 19-0319

• The Energy Efficiency Project under the Agreement with the Public Building Commission of Chicago was discussed again, after having been considered at the last meeting. 
• Commissioner Shore reiterated support for lighting efficiency but still had questions about why this needed to be contracted out. Staff stated that it could be done in-house, but would take significant time away from other jobs. 
• Commissioner Shore said that it’s a fact that there will be savings from the project, so there is no need for an outside group to guarantee this. Doing it in-house would save the commission fee. Commissioner Steele said that they are now in the third phase of the project and might have to pay a “walkaway” fee of $175,000. Shore pointed out that $375,000 would be saved, even if the “walkaway” fee applied.
• Final vote:    8 ayes    1 nay

Board adjourned and went into executive session to discuss open meetings and retention of legal counsel.
Regular MWRD Board meeting convened after executive session. 

New business:

1. Commissioner Shore expressed concern about the effect of the Fox-Conn project on Des Plaines River flooding in Cook County. She requested that staff research this.
2. Commissioner Avila expressed interest in increasing the dollar amount that would trigger projects that must come before the Board for consideration.
3. ​Commissioner Garcia urged all commissioners to sign a letter opposing the citizenship question on the census form.

WORKSHOP ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT followed.  The topic of the session was the proposed 2019 Watershed Management Ordinance. 

• MWRD engineering department gave a presentation. Commissioners Shore and Davis asked about water quality. It is not mentioned in the act. Staff replied that the EPA had jurisdiction, but that commissioners could request a study if they wished.
• ​There was some discussion about the technical guidance manual. Commissioner Shore was concerned with moving items outside the ordinance. Her concern was that this might weaken those items and be open to challenge.
• Shore asked what appeal process does the general public have? Answer: the WMO has a limited appeals remedy. Only the one with the permit can appeal. Commissioner Davis joined Shore in concerns about water quality and the appeals process.

Observer left the workshop at 3pm while it was still in session..

Observed by:    Georgia Gebhardt                      Meeting Length: 90 minutes