Despite lengthy debate, Springfield aldermen decided to hire a consultant to help the city re-establish an inspector general’s office.
Tuesday night, Alderman Frank Edwards questions why the office should not be part of the city’s executive branch.
“For those of you who don’t think we need an Inspector General but yet you say you don’t trust our executive (mayor), really? You want it both ways? If you don’t trust the person in charge, then you really do need an Inspector General, “ Edwards told aldermen.
Edwards has advocated for an outside firm to field complaints and is waiting to be convinced the position needs to be established full time. The costs for the 79-thousand dollar consulting contract has already been factored into this year’s budget.
In other action, the council let the contract with NAPA, and thus the city’s consolidated garage remained in committee with no discussion.
Finally, aldermen approved money for CWLP to conduct a feasibility study of possibly installing charging stations in the city for electric cars.