Ernie Payne, a member of Citizens for Ethics Reform and a former member of the Tallahassee Independent Ethics Board, asked the Charter Review Committee to consider a charter amendment establishing an independent Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Payne said the office would reinforce transparency and accountability by investigating ethics issues, fraud, waste, and service deficiencies and by serving as the designated statutory agent for whistleblower complaints. He proposed an oversight board of citizens—appointed by the county’s constitutional officers—to hire and annually evaluate an inspector general and to ensure the office’s independence. Payne also urged the office have legal counsel independent of the county attorney to avoid conflicts in whistleblower cases.

Committee action: Dr. Howard Kessler moved to place the inspector‑general proposal on a future committee agenda for staff review; the motion was seconded and the committee voted to direct staff to prepare legal, structural and fiscal options for establishing an OIG. Members asked staff to include model structures and to consult with local ethics advocates during the analysis.

Why it matters: An independent inspector general could centralize oversight and whistleblower handling, but it also raises structural and fiscal questions (scope, staffing, oversight board composition, budget). The committee asked staff to return with a fuller evaluation, including comparisons to local models and national standards.