Council seeks immediate access for inspector general; administration says data-use agreement will provide system access

A prolonged council discussion focused on access for the newly created inspector general office. Council members said they intended to ensure the office could execute investigations into waste, fraud and abuse and asked why comprehensive electronic access had not yet been provided five months into the IG's tenure. Members argued that the locally enacted ordinance establishing the IG intended substantial access to records held across county systems.

Administration and the office of law described legal constraints rooted in the Maryland Public Information Act and personnel/confidentiality protections. Council administrator Michelle Harrod told the body that a data-use agreement had been finalized and that the inspector general "will have access to SAP and UKG by the end of the day today." She said other system access requests and any legal limits were being worked through with the IG and the county's legal counsel.

Several council members said a legislative fix at the state level or an Attorney General opinion might be required to resolve mandatory-denial questions and to harmonize local practice with other counties that appear to provide broader IG access. The council urged the administration to move quickly and suggested sending a formal request to the state Attorney General if local legal advice did not permit clear, usable access. Administration said it was meeting regularly with the IG and would continue to provide access consistent with legal restrictions.

The exchange ended with the administration's assurance that the DUA was in place and specific platform access would soon follow; council members reserved the option of further action if access did not materialize.