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Council directs staff to review residency requirements for certain department positions
Summary
Citing multiple personnel who do not meet current city residency or radius requirements, council voted 8–0 to have staff review and return with recommendations to amend the code for department heads and rank‑and‑file positions.
The City of Freeport directed staff to review and return with recommendations on residency requirements in the municipal code for department heads and certain sworn ranks after council discussion raised concerns about current compliance and the ordinance’s practical effect.
The council discussed codified section 2‑40.31 (police) and related sections for other departments that impose residency or distance‑from‑city requirements for chiefs, deputy chiefs, lieutenants and sergeants. Attorney Zito explained the code allows people already living outside the required radius prior to adoption to be grandfathered in, and staff noted several officers and other employees currently live outside the prescribed area.
Several council members said the residency rules are outdated and inconsistent with collective bargaining agreements that have removed such requirements. Alderman Parker moved (and the motion was seconded) to have staff prepare proposed amendments to remove or modernize residency requirements for department heads, sworn supervisors and rank‑and‑file personnel as appropriate and return to council for consideration at a future meeting.
The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous: “Motion passes 8 to 0.” Staff will prepare recommended code language and legal analysis for a forthcoming council agenda.
Why it matters: Residency rules affect recruitment, retention and labor negotiations; council’s direction will determine whether the city retains local residency requirements for public‑safety and department leadership roles.
