The audit focused on the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

“IGO auditors found that BACP’s license issuance operations were effective and efficient,” said Inspector General Joe Ferguson. “Most licenses are issued within one month of a business owner’s initial inquiry to the City. However, BACP could stand to improve its online licensure system; more and more business is being transacted over the internet, and BACP license operations could do a better job reflecting that reality.”

The IGO found that only 10-15% of new business applications were filed online.

Pointing to budget constraints, BACP indicated this is an area they hope to improve. Currently, there is not enough funding to upgrade their system to:

1) Allow for electronic processing for each type of business license required by the City
2) Allow for electronic processing of emailed or scanned licensure documents
3) Enable the system to accept submissions in multiple languages

The IGO audit did not address the City’s construction permitting process, nor did it qualify or judge licenses issued by the City; it simply measured the efficiency of the City’s business licensure process.

“I would like to thank the Commissioner and BACP employees. Their full cooperation allowed IGO staff to perform a complete audit of an important City function. It is my hope that they are able to use the audit results to improve their systems and service for City taxpayers.”

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NOTICE OF JOB OPPORTUNITY
——————————————————————————–
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree, supplemented by five years of progressively responsible investigative, human resources, or program review and evaluation experience including two years of supervisory experience related to the responsibilities of position, or an equivalent combination of training and experience as long as the minimum degree requirement is met. Graduation from an ABA accredited law school with a juris doctorate degree and admission to the Illinois Bar (or another state bar having reciprocity with Illinois) is highly preferred.

NOTE: RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: An applicant must be an actual resident of the City of Chicago. Proof of residency will be required at the time of employment.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL APPLYING. NO SECOND PARTY APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ANNUAL SALARY:
Commensurate With Experience
Up to $95,004

DUTIES:

• Under direction, the Chief of Hiring Oversight manages the Hiring Oversight team in the Inspector General’s Office.
• Monitors implementation and enforcement of employment actions covered by the Shakman Accord and court-ordered City’s hiring plan, which includes: (1) receiving and processing and evaluating complaints regarding City employment actions; (2) facilitating the escalation process as detailed in the City’s hiring plan; (3) supervising the review and audit of key processes in City employment actions; (4) developing and facilitating training programs for City employees; and (5) recommending appropriate corrective action.
• Prepares reports as required by the City’s hiring plan, as well as quarterly and annual reports as required by Chicago Municipal Code 2-56-035(c).
• Works with the Director of Investigations to determine appropriate matters to be referred for investigation.
• Works with the Inspector General to determine strategies and direction of oversight work.
• Directs staff in reviewing City programs and processes to ensure compliance with policies and regulations.
• Researches best practices and establishes and modifies policies and procedures relative to oversight operations.
• Prepares work schedules and staff assignments and determines work priorities.
• Develops and implements work standards, policies and procedures for conducting audits and reviews of the City’s hiring plan and consults with and provides guidance to City Department heads on the same.
• Coordinates and conducts staff training on oversight practices and procedures.
• Performs related duties as required.

INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this job title do NOT use the City of Chicago online application.
Follow these six steps:

1. Go to e-mail address jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org;
2. In the subject line, type in the job title for which you are applying;
3. Complete, save and attach the “Inspector General Employment Application,” available here;
4. Attach your cover letter for this job title;
5. Attach your resume; and,
6. Attach a writing sample and college and/or graduate school transcripts.

NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide all the information listed above.  If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, your submission will be incomplete and you will not be considered for an interview.  Application materials will only be accepted by e-mail at jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org. If there is more than one open position in which you are interested, you may apply for more than one title by submitting an individual e-mail for each title. Repeat instruction steps one through six with each e-mail.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Highlights from IGO misconduct investigations include:

1)     The IGO found that a tree trimmer in the Department of Streets & Sanitation (DSS) took the City’s mandatory 2010 Ethics Training for three other DSS employees.  The IGO recommended his termination, but DSS instead gave him a 20 day suspension.

2)     A senior DSS official, aware of an ongoing IGO investigation, circumvented the IGO investigation by doling out pre-emptive discipline to a ward supervisor who had admitted to IGO investigators that he had collected election signs in his ward, storing the signs of the ward’s incumbent alderman at a DSS facility for later return while throwing competitors’ signs away.

3)     A Chicago Fire Department (CFD) Battalion Chief repeatedly violated CFD and City rules over a two-year period by allowing his adult son to stay overnight at a firehouse and ride with him to fire emergencies in a CFD vehicle. The Fire Commissioner served the Battalion Chief with an oral reprimand instead of the recommended 20 day suspension.

In addition to these investigations, the quarterly reports the IGO:

1)     Found no accountability, ownership, or standards for the City’s practice of requiring TIF subsidy recipients to make donations to specific charities or public programs;

2)     Prompted the City to terminate its residency waiver program in response to an IGO review of the City’s residency waiver process, which temporarily allowed certain non-residents to work for the City, which concluded that the City’s waiver program was not legally authorized under the City’s Residency Ordinance;

3)     Prompted the City, in response to an IGO Open Chicago request, to  publicly post online materials provided by commissioners to the City Council during the 2012 budget hearings.

 ###

]]> http://chicagoinspectorgeneral.org/publications-and-press/igo-releases-2011-fourth-quarter-report/feed/ 0 http://chicagoinspectorgeneral.org/publications-and-press/press-releases/igo-statement-regarding-citys-settlement-with-allied-waste-transportation-inc/ http://chicagoinspectorgeneral.org/publications-and-press/press-releases/igo-statement-regarding-citys-settlement-with-allied-waste-transportation-inc/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:13:34 +0000 JDavey http://chicagoinspectorgeneral.org/?p=3488 [Read More...]]]> Today, the City of Chicago settled civil claims with Allied Waste Transportation Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc, related to Allied’s long-running violations of Minority and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) provisions in Allied’s waste hauling contracts with the City.

The IGO offered a statement on the settlement. It is  available via downloadable PDF on the right.

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NOTICE OF JOB OPPORTUNITY
——————————————————————————–
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree supplemented by two years of work experience in the investigation or compliance monitoring of programs and processes, or an equivalent combination of training, education, and experience.

NOTE: RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: An applicant must be an actual resident of the City of Chicago. Proof of residency will be required at the time of employment.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL APPLYING.  NO SECOND PARTY APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ANNUAL SALARY:
$53,844

DUTIES:

• Under supervision, audits and monitors processes and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws, including the Shakman Accord. See Michael Shakman, et al. v. City of Chicago, 69 C 2145.
• Investigates and responds to compliance violations to ensure compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws, including the Shakman Accord.
• Assists IGO investigative staff on relevant IGO investigations.
• Researches relevant best practices and participates in the making of recommendations to establish and modify relevant policies and procedures.
• Interprets and explains relevant ordinances, policies, and guidelines and participates in the advisement and training of operating departments on new or modified relevant procedures and practices.
• Prepares narrative and statistical reports on assigned cases.
• Testifies in court and at hearings concerning case findings.
• Collaborates and manages compliance initiatives and programs with operating departments and outside agencies.
• May assist with training of City personnel.
• Performs related duties as required.

INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this job title do NOT use the City of Chicago online application.
Follow these six steps:

1. Go to e-mail address jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org;
2. In the subject line, type in the job title for which you are applying;
3. Complete, save and attach the “Inspector General Employment Application,” available here;
4. Attach your cover letter for this job title;
5. Attach your resume; and,
6. Attach a writing sample and college and/or graduate school transcripts.

NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide all the information listed above. If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, your submission will be incomplete and you will not be considered for an interview. Application materials will only be accepted by e-mail at jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org . When there is more than one open position in which you are interested, you may apply for more than one title by submitting an individual e-mail for each title. Repeat instruction steps one through six with each e-mail.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

——————————————————————————–

NOTICE OF JOB OPPORTUNITY
——————————————————————————–
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a graduate degree in public policy, public administration, social work, economics, or a related field.  Relevant work experience may be substituted for a graduate school degree.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:   The position requires a person with a strong desire to make a visible and direct contribution to the development of public policy in a nonpartisan setting.  Experience executing research as a basis for policy analyses, program evaluations, management reviews, budget analyses, or similar technical reviews; Ability to clearly present work orally and in writing to non-technical audiences; Strong quantitative skills and experience in cost-benefit analysis, budgeting, economics, or finance strongly preferred; Ability to work well with others, learn quickly, show initiative, and be willing to take on increasing levels of responsibility; Experience using Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access; Familiarity with other software programs such as ArcGIS, SAS, and SPSS.

NOTE: RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: An applicant must be an actual resident of the City of Chicago. Proof of residency will be required at the time of employment.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL APPLYING. NO SECOND PARTY APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ANNUAL SALARY:
Commensurate With Experience
Up to $52,500

DUTIES: Reporting to the Director of Program and Policy Review, the policy analyst will conduct research and analysis to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of various governmental programs. The critical functions of the position include:

• Writing analyses and reviews of City of Chicago programs and policy based on in-depth research and analysis;
• Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to program performance and efficiency;
• Reading, evaluating, and summarizing academic and policy research relating to various issues facing the City;
• Interviewing departmental staff and academic researchers;
• Reviewing and analyzing departmental records.

INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this job title do NOT use the City of Chicago online application.
Follow these six steps:

1. Go to e-mail address jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org;
2. In the subject line, type in the job title for which you are applying;
3. Complete, save and attach the “Inspector General Employment Application,” available here;
4. Attach your cover letter for this job title;
5. Attach your resume; and,
6. Attach a writing sample and college and/or graduate school transcripts.

NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide all the information listed above.  If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, your submission will be incomplete and you will not be considered for an interview.  Application materials will only be accepted by e-mail at jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org. If there is more than one open position in which you are interested, you may apply for more than one title by submitting an individual e-mail for each title. Repeat instruction steps one through six with each e-mail.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

——————————————————————————–

NOTICE OF JOB OPPORTUNITY
——————————————————————————–
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related degree, including three years of experience in financial auditing and/or investigations, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. A valid State of Illinois driver’s license is required, as well as the availability to work any duty watch.

NOTE: RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: An applicant must be an actual resident of the City of Chicago. Proof of residency will be required at the time of employment.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL APPLYING. NO SECOND PARTY APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ANNUAL SALARY:
Commensurate With Experience
Up to $66,180

DUTIES:

• Conducts comprehensive analysis of financial automated accounting systems and manual fiscal records including ledgers, invoices and contracts
• Collects and evaluates financial evidence in order to establish the nature and extent of alleged improprieties
• Interviews managers, witnesses and subjects to obtain evidence of alleged wrongdoings
• Prepares written reports detailing investigation findings
• Testifies in state and federal criminal and civil court proceedings and before administrative hearings regarding results of investigations
• Ensures collected physical evidence is preserved, inventoried and archived according to operating standards
• Collaborates with IGO and state and federal investigators and agents in obtaining and analyzing financial records
• Collaborates with the Audit and Program Review section in the conduct of performance audits and program reviews
• Builds queries to facilitate the analysis of large datasets using tools such as Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Basic, Microsoft Access, SQL, Business Objects, SAS or IDEA
• Locates, recovers, and analyzes electronically-stored information such as bank records, while preserving its evidentiary value
• Develops proactive investigations based on intelligence derived from investigative activities and analysis of information in other investigations.

INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this job title do NOT use the City of Chicago online application.
Follow these six steps:

1. Go to e-mail address jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org;
2. In the subject line, type in the job title for which you are applying;
3. Complete, save and attach the “Inspector General Employment Application,” available here;
4. Attach your cover letter for this job title;
5. Attach your resume; and,
6. Attach a writing sample and college and/or graduate school transcripts.

NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide all the information listed above.  If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, your submission will be incomplete and you will not be considered for an interview.  Application materials will only be accepted by e-mail at jobs@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org. If there is more than one open position in which you are interested, you may apply for more than one title by submitting an individual e-mail for each title. Repeat instruction steps one through six with each e-mail.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Following a request from the Inspector General, the City has now posted this information for review online – which, prior to the IGO request, had not been made widely available to the public.

As part of the City of Chicago Inspector General’s Office’s (IGO) Open Chicago initiative, Inspector General Joseph Ferguson requested City department heads either provide the IGO with copies of all documents submitted to the City Council as part of the 2012 City Council Department budget hearings or provide this information onto their public websites.

The City informed the IGO today that these documents are now online via the City’s Office of Budget and Management’s website.

For some years, the City has granted temporary waivers to the residency requirement for City employees. A recent IGO investigation prompted the IGO to review the waiver process, the City’s residency ordinance (MCC 2-152-050), and relevant administrative rules. From our analysis, the IGO concluded that any form of residency waiver constitutes a violation of the Residency Ordinance. More specifically, the IGO concluded the ordinance neither permits exceptions, nor delegates to the DHR Commissioner (or any other City official) the discretion or authority to issue waivers. Accordingly, the IGO recommended that absent an amendment to the ordinance to permit such waivers DHR and the Office of the Mayor immediately discontinue their practice of granting waivers.

The IGO further recommended that in the event DHR and the Department of Law determine some form of waiver is lawful under the existing ordinance, or the ordinance was amended to permit waivers, DHR clarify relevant personnel rules and procedures and ensure that all DHR employees and human resources liaisons are properly trained on the residency requirement and waiver procedures.

In her response to the IGO report, DHR Commissioner Soo Choi stated that DHR would no longer grant residency waivers. The Commissioner further noted that in the event the residency ordinance was amended to permit waivers, DHR would make necessary changes to the City’s Personnel Rules and any other relevant policies and procedures to ensure that all DHR employees and departmental HR Liaisons were properly trained.

“Chicago’s residency requirement for City employees has a long, complicated, and occasionally controversial history,” said Inspector General Joe Ferguson. “This office receives dozens of complaints annually concerning allegations of City employees and officials residing outside of City limits in violation of the Residency Ordinance. Our findings and the Administration’s response serve to simplify and clarify the residency requirement, and bring it fully within the dictates of the City’s own law.”

The purpose of the audit was to review, test, and evaluate the processes to determine whether the Department of Housing and Economic Development and its predecessors had effective controls as well as adequate policies and procedures related to the density bonus. We determined that internal controls were not adequate to ensure a proper review of development projects prior to the issuance of building permits and the adequate training of individuals with core responsibilities respecting the collection of payments. However, we did find the internal controls ensuring the collection of density bonus payments were adequate. The deficiencies in internal controls resulted in the following negative consequences:

- Planned Development projects were not appropriately reviewed for compliance with
ordinance.
- A training issue resulted in a gap in controls related to collection of payments.

There were no controls to ensure consistency in the overlapping review processes of the Department of Housing and Economic Development and the Department of Buildings and that the review process fully complied with the Zoning Ordinance.