From the Chicago Tribune

Daley proposes new oversight of city projects
By Gary Washburn
Tribune staff reporter
Published November 8, 2004, 1:07 PM CST
Mayor Richard Daley today proposed new oversight of the two city departments implicated in the Hired Truck bribery scandal as well as a new city office to oversee license applications.
Daley called for five non-union project managers to oversee inventory, trucks, equipment and project performance at Department of Transportation construction sites; and 10 non-union engineers to oversee planning, material procurement, quality control and project performance in the Department of Water Management.
The mayor said the measures are intended to ensure "even better control over projects on a day-to-day basis." All of the positions will be new, according to mayoral spokeswoman Jackie Heard.
Since January, a number of officials in the city's Transportation and Water Departments have been slapped with federal charges, alleging they took bribes from trucking company owners and illicitly profited off city business.
One of those charged was Donald Tomczak, former first deputy commissioner of the Water Department. Contributions from trucking companies implicated in the scandal allegedly showed up in the campaign fund of Tomczak's son, Will County State's Atty. Jeff Tomczak. The son last week lost his bid for re-election.
Daley today also proposed the creation of a Department of Business Affairs and Licensing to consolidate the functions of several city departments so that businesses can go to one place to obtain licenses and seek start-up assistance.
The mayor announced the proposals at a City Hall news conference this morning, one day before he is to unveiled his proposed 2005 budget, which is expected to contain a long list of tax increases.
Last week, in the wake of scandals surrounding the Hired Truck program as well as the hiring of unqualified building inspectors, Daley proposed a package of ordinances city officials said were designed to fight waste and fraud.
One would prohibit retaliation against city employees who report wrongdoing. Another would let a citizen file a claim with the city's corporation counsel against contractors whom he or she can show have defrauded the city.
A third measure would allow the city to file charges with the Department of Administrative Hearings against any person who submits a false claim.
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