Metra still in talks over independent watchdog

Talks between a state lawmaker and Metra leaders nudged forward Friday at a Chicago summit over appointing an independent watchdog for the troubled agency.

However, Sen. Susan Garrett and representatives with the Regional Transportation Authority, which has oversight of Metra, butted heads on who should choose the inspector general.

In the aftermath of a financial misconduct scandal at Metra, Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, and other lawmakers have lobbied for Metra to have an inspector general appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn and confirmed by the Senate so that person isn't compromised if they should have to investigate high-ranking officials.

Metra board directors have favored appointing their own IG but seemed willing to consider the alternative of having a committee composed of Quinn, the Illinois attorney general, auditor general, state executive inspector general and an officer from the national association of inspectors general pick a watchdog with Senate approval.

"It's worth discussing," Metra Chairman Carole Doris said. However, clouding the issue is the fact that some county board officials, who have the power to appoint Metra directors, and other lawmakers aren't enthused about an IG being picked by state leaders.

The Metra board is expected to talk about the issue in the near future and another joint meeting is tentatively set for the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transportation Authority is pushing for another option - that its directors appoint an inspector general who would investigate misdeeds at the RTA, Metra and Pace.

Since the RTA has oversight and audit powers over other transit agencies, agency officials contend that it makes sense and is more economical for them to pick the IG. Officials also said that the RTA is so small with 110 employees it doesn't need an IG of its own and already has strong audit controls in place.

"We think that since the RTA is the oversight agency it makes sense the RTA continues that role," the RTA's Clint Sabin said.

Garrett disagreed, saying that created too cozy a relationship between the IG and the transit officials he or she could be investigating. "It's a family of friends," Garrett said. "There's too many people who are overly friendly with one another."

Legislation was recently enacted requiring the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to have an inspector general appointed by Quinn and approved by the Illinois Senate.

The tollway's manager of investigations Jim Wagner said any inspector general picked by a board he or she could end up policing would have a difficult time conducting an independent investigation without fear of some type of retribution.