Howard County Inspector General Still Seeking Direct Records Access After Four Months
Howard County’s Inspector General Kelly Madigan said last month during a Council work session that her office still lacks direct access to some electronic records systems four months after becoming the County’s first Inspector General.
When asked by Councilwoman Deb Jung (D4) if she was receiving all the support her office needed, Ms. Madigan described the need for direct read-only access and replied, “It’s a work in progress, is what I’m gonna say.”
The Inspector General has had to email county employees to obtain access to some records. She told Council members that confidentiality may be compromised when records requests are sent to department heads or others to obtain information, and progress is often much slower as emails are exchanged back and forth. Inspector Madigan emphasized that read-only access to all electronic records is an ongoing issue after four months and multiple conversations with county administration.
Data-sharing agreements between the Inspector General’s office and county departments have been drafted and sent to the county since early March but had not been finalized at the time of the work session.
“The time to talk is done, Ms. Madigan,” Councilwoman Jung replied. “If you are not getting what you need and you’re not getting immediate access, then it’s time to act.” Council members Liz Walsh (D1), David Yungmann (D5), and Christiana Rigby (D3) also expressed support for broad independent access to county records. The Council discussed legislative fixes or other ways to speed up records access before Council approval of the budget on May 20.
Inspector Madigan, who started the job Jan 5, also emphasized some early progress in formalizing oversight. She worked with County Executive Calvin Ball in the recently issued executive order (April 23) declaring that “County employees shall report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse within the operations of Howard County Government to the Howard County Office of the Inspector General.”
The Inspector General’s office had received 52 complaints at the time of the work session.
Residents will have another opportunity to hear from Ms. Madigan during a Howard County Citizens Association-HCCA sponsored meeting May 19 at 7p.m. in the George Howard Building Banneker Room. The organization has also requested that the meet and greet be recorded.
[Howard County News and Opinion is an Editorial/Opinion blog]