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Freeport removes residency requirement for department heads in city code
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance removing residency requirements for department heads and certain employees; Alderman Sellers cited public‑safety staffing considerations in supporting the change.
The Freeport City Council voted 5–0 to adopt an ordinance amending the city code to remove residency requirements for department heads and certain other employees.
Manager Rob Boyer said staff had discussed the matter at multiple council meetings and asked the council to suspend the rules to advance the ordinance. The ordinance amendment was described as a change to “various provisions of the city code of ordinances regarding residency requirements for department heads and certain other employees.”
Alderman Sellers spoke in favor, saying he supported removing residency requirements because public‑safety personnel and other department heads “put their lives on the line” and the change would help recruiting and retention. No council member recorded a vote in opposition; the ordinance passed on roll call.
Why it matters: removing municipal residency requirements can broaden candidate pools for key municipal positions and affect recruitment and retention, particularly in public safety and other specialized roles.
The council approved the ordinance after suspending the rules for immediate consideration.
