(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago aldermen gave preliminary approval Thursday to changing rules governing the appointment and term of the city's inspector general -- Chicago's top official watchdog.
Ethics Committee Chairman Matt Martin (47th Ward) said he doesn't want to see a repeat of the nine months it took to replace previous Inspector General Joe Ferguson. He is proposing a two-term limit for anyone serving in that role.
Current IG Deborah Witzburg says that would make the process more transparent.
"In the existing version of this process, there are two things missing," Witzburg told aldermen during the committee’s meeting. "One, there's not an established timeline for the process and two, there's not a mechanism for explanation if there is a delay."
But 29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro says he has concerns about the term-limit provision, especially if an appointee does a great job.
"We could be losing a very valuable asset," he said.
But Witzburg says there's a danger in staying too long.
The committee agreed, and the measure now goes to the full City Council for consideration at its next meeting, set for July 19.
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