Committee on Council approves charter amendment separating Inspector General and Ethics offices after debate on subpoena power

The Atlanta Committee on Council voted to advance a substitute charter amendment that separates the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the city Ethics Office into two distinct entities with independent governing boards, adding procedural clarifications and limits on third‑party subpoenas. The committee approved the substitute as amended by a 5 ayes, 1 nay, 1 abstention vote and forwarded it to full council for the first of two required adoptions under Georgia’s municipal Home Rule Act.

The substitute (item 32501009) revises the City of Atlanta charter to create separate governing boards for the OIG and the Ethics Office, clarifies intake and record procedures (including allowance for taped video responses), confirms a two‑year term for board members in some cases, and inserts language about the handling of compelled employee statements. The substitute reflects edits made after a task‑force review, a work session with the Finance and Executive Committee and follow‑up from the law department.

Council member Isha Collins (Post 3 at‑large), chairing the meeting, read the substitute caption and opened the paper for discussion. City Attorney Patrice Perkins explained legal constraints and several substantive changes, including a provision that requires city units to document in writing any internal processes that delay surrendering property requested by the OIG and provide an estimated surrender date. Perkins said the substitute also clarifies an intake…