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Council appoints Foster Curtis as interim inspector general amid council tensions
Summary
The council voted to appoint Foster Curtis as interim inspector general. The appointment passed on a recorded unanimous vote after contentious remarks by Councilmember Trammell about the council’s earlier action on the inspector general’s office.
The Richmond City Council on Monday appointed Foster Curtis as interim inspector general in a vote recorded as unanimous.
Councilmembers said the interim appointment was needed to maintain continuity in the inspector general’s office while the council oversees a leadership transition. The council expedited and adopted the resolution appointing Curtis, who will serve in an acting capacity at the inspector general’s pay scale, according to the administration; council members said there was no special or additional salary beyond standard acting‑role adjustments discussed in the meeting.
The appointment followed a heated exchange in which Councilmember Trammell criticized the council’s prior handling of the inspector general’s office and said the earlier decision (to remove or place the prior IG on leave) was wrong. Trammell told colleagues she had been out of town and objected to the timing of earlier actions; other members pushed back and emphasized that a majority of the body had acted. Trammell nonetheless voted in favor of the interim appointment.
Why it matters: The inspector general’s office conducts investigations and oversight of city operations; an interim appointment keeps the office operating while the council manages ongoing staffing and any outstanding inquiries.
Implementation details and compensation: Council members asked whether the interim appointment included additional pay. The chair confirmed Curtis will receive the standard pay for the IG role during the interim period and that no special extra compensation was offered beyond the standard acting‑capacity arrangement; an exact salary figure was requested but not read into the record during the meeting.
Action: The resolution to appoint Foster Curtis as interim inspector general was adopted with a unanimous recorded vote.
Ending note: Several council members asked for clarity about the office’s ongoing investigations and for additional briefings; the meeting record shows the council intends to continue oversight and to provide more information to the public where appropriate.
