Howard County Inspector General Advisory Board Meeting - September 17, 2026

The Inspector General Advisory Board (IGAB) held a hybrid meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the C. Vernon Gray Room and via WebEx. The board welcomed new members, received an update from Inspector General Kelly Madigan, discussed access to county systems, reviewed the IG performance evaluation criteria, and planned the annual report and required joint meeting with the County Executive and County Council.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Introduction of Deputy Inspector General Frank Lopez: Mr. Lopez, a 29.5-year veteran of the Maryland State Police (retired December 2025), introduced himself. He has four sons raised in Howard County and coached youth soccer. The board welcomed him.
• Introduction of New IGAB Member Michael Cummins: Mr. Cummins is a retired federal law enforcement agent (FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, retired 2020) and former auditor for military and federal IG offices. He currently leads a global security team for a pharmaceutical distributor.
• Inspector General Update (Kelly Madigan):
  • As of the meeting date, the OIG had received 101 complaints and had 18 open and active cases.
  • Two new investigators will be onboarded: one on September 21, 2026, and one on November 2, 2026.
  • An intern from the University of Maryland (rising junior) has joined two days per week for academic credit.
  • The OIG training course is nearing rollout to the Office of Law and Office of Human Resources; the goal is 95% completion by all Howard County employees (approximately 5,000–6,000).
  • Permanent office space was secured at 9755 Patuxent Woods in mid-August, occupying a shared suite with five offices, three cubicles, and a conference room. A county vehicle (Honda CRV) was obtained in late May/early June using prior year salary savings.
  • Systems Access: The county has identified over 300 systems; access to date includes email and basic time/attendance systems (4–5 systems). Ms. Madigan expects to have core systems identified by end of calendar year. Lack of access (e.g., personnel records) has impeded some investigations—some cases cannot be fully pursued because required records are denied under the current interpretation of the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA).
  • Case Management System: A SharePoint-based system has been operational since mid-April, enabling tracking of investigative tasks and metrics.
• Update on MPIA Litigation in Baltimore City:
  • Chair Salem reported on a hearing held September 16, 2026, before Judge Pamela White regarding Baltimore City IG access. The judge ordered the city to respond to subpoenas and reinstate direct server access for the IG, ruling that the IG’s confidentiality obligation negates MPIA redaction concerns. The ruling is persuasive but not controlling in Howard County. The board discussed whether state legislation is the best long-term solution. Ms. Madigan and attorney Amanda noted the need to review the written order before determining impact.
• Inspector General Performance Evaluation Criteria:
  • The board agreed to reduce the performance evaluation metrics from eight (as in the county’s standard form) to three narrative metrics:
    1. Outreach – communications, training, public relations.
    2. Professionalism – incorporating judgment, problem solving, teamwork, adaptability, attendance, etc.
    3. Performance – meeting responsibilities (e.g., casework, administrative duties).
  • The board will draft narrative language for each metric, share with Kelly Madigan for input, and finalize a rating after approval by HR. An interim meeting before December 3, 2026, may be needed.
• IGAB Annual Report Discussion:
  • The board is required to issue an annual report by the end of each calendar year, submitted simultaneously with the IG’s annual report. A joint meeting with the County Council and County Executive is also required.
  • The board set a deadline of December 14, 2026, for a near-final draft. Statistics will run through the end of November. The joint meeting should be scheduled within the next month, likely before the new council takes office in December.
• IGAB Vacancy Update:
  • Julia Zhu has been nominated to fill the D1 seat (replacing Steve Grisenberry). A public hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2026, with a county council vote on October 5, 2026. She is expected to join by the December 3 meeting.
• Other Business:
  • Chair Salem suggested amending the board’s rules and procedures to explicitly define performance evaluation oversight as a ministerial function, to ensure clear authority. This would be considered next year.

Key Outcomes

• Welcome: Frank Lopez as Deputy IG and Michael Cummins as new board member.
• Performance Evaluation: Consensus to proceed with three narrative metrics (outreach, professionalism, performance) subject to HR approval; Chair Salem will draft language.
• Annual Report: Draft due December 14, 2026; IG statistics through November 30, 2026. Staff (Isaiah and Nick) will schedule the joint meeting with the County Executive and County Council within the next month.
• Systems Access: Ms. Madigan will provide a further update at the December 3 meeting on progress toward accessing core county systems.
• Next Meeting: Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 6:30 PM. Additional interim meetings may be called to finalize the performance evaluation narrative and annual report.