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Council declines to advance inspector general charter amendment to floor after heated debate
Summary
A motion to petition a charter amendment to give the inspector general direct access to city files failed on a roll call after lengthy debate over legality, timing and the need for more committee review; sponsors warned the office remains constrained pending further action.
The Baltimore City Council on [date not specified in the transcript] voted against petitioning a charter amendment that would have granted the city inspector general broader access to city records, leaving the measure in the Charter Review Special Committee.
Councilmember John Conway (speaker identified in the transcript as Councilmember Conway), the bill's sponsor, urged colleagues to move quickly. "What it attempts to do is give the inspector general the same access that the office has had since its existence," Conway said, arguing investigators need direct file access to conduct inquiries into fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.
Councilmember Rachel Ramos (identified in the transcript as Councilmember Ramos), a member of the Charter Review Special Committee, urged caution, saying the committee had not yet completed its deliberative work and that the bill in its current form "is not legal" and likely to be overturned in court. Ramos asked the body to "resist this motion" so the committee could gather additional information and draft legally durable language.
Other members echoed concerns about process and timing. "This is important work and that work is not driven by the media cycle," said Councilmember Bullock (vice chair of the Charter Review committee in the transcript), arguing the item needed more committee hearings. Councilmember Parker emphasized the value of community input and careful committee work before placing a charter amendment on the ballot.
After closing debate, the council took a roll-call vote on the motion to petition Bill 26-0164 out of committee. The clerk recorded the votes and the motion failed; the council president announced, "The motion fails and the bill will remain in the Charter Review Special Committee for further consideration." The transcript does not record a final numerical tally in the body of the debate, only the clerk's roll call responses.
Next steps: the measure remains in committee for additional hearings and drafting. Sponsors said they remain intent on restoring the inspector general's access but acknowledged the need to resolve legal concerns and secure broader council support before moving forward.
