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Freeport council debates removing residency requirements for city directors; first reading moves forward after failed suspension
Summary
City manager proposed removing residency rules for most director-level positions to widen hiring pool; council heard lengthy, at times heated, debate. Suspension to adopt ordinance on first reading tonight failed; item will return for second reading.
Freeport City Council heard a lengthy debate over a proposed change to city residency rules that would remove residency requirements for most department directors while keeping the requirement for the city manager.
City Manager Boyer urged the council to approve an ordinance amending residency rules, saying the change would “allow the city to have a little more flexible hiring practice in terms of who we can recruit” and help make Freeport competitive for qualified candidates, given a tight labor market.
The discussion centered on whether removing residency limits would undercut local accountability and city investment. Alderman Monroe said nonresident directors “don’t understand the…
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