Subcommittee advances Springfield skills-based hiring ordinance, sends measure to full council

The General Government Subcommittee of Springfield City voted to advance an ordinance that would promote skills-based hiring practices for city jobs and sent the measure to the full City Council for final passage, the committee announced at a meeting that convened at 5:09 p.m. and adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

The ordinance, described during the meeting as an amendment to chapters 7 and 3 of the revised ordinances of Springfield and modeled after a state executive order, would direct the city’s Personnel and Labor Relations office to review job classifications and recruitment language to allow relevant experience, certifications or training to substitute for degree requirements when appropriate. “Let’s not automatically cut somebody out, of a potential interview because . . . they’re missing the degree,” Councilor Lugano, the ordinance sponsor, said, arguing the change would widen the applicant pool for nontechnical roles.

Supporters said the change responds to local workforce…