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Council splits on residency, civil service and recruitment challenges for police and DPW
Summary
Council members debated residency requirements and civil service processes, saying residency can improve community ties but may limit applicant pools; staff reported many candidates did not respond to fitness tests and council discussed using county lists or running new civil service tests.
A recurring debate over residency rules and civil service resurfaced at the Tonawanda City Council informal meeting, with members sharply divided over whether residency requirements strengthen community policing or hinder hiring.
Several council members argued that requiring employees, especially police officers, to live in the city improves response, community familiarity and trust. One council member said, "That's what you get paid for — that's why you're a cop," framing residency as part of public service. Others warned that strict residency rules could reduce the hiring pool and prompt an exodus of municipal employees across departments, including the Department of Public Works (DPW) and sanitation, and that lateral hires and county lists might be necessary to fill vacancies.
Staff reported recruiting problems. A department representative said a significant number of candidates on the civil service list did not respond to physical fitness testing and that the department intends to put out another civil service test. Council members discussed options including switching to a county hiring list, running another test, or revising civil service rules, while acknowledging collective bargaining and negotiated contract constraints.
No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; council members asked staff to provide updated recruitment numbers and to return with further analysis. The debate also linked to other personnel and budget items discussed later in the meeting.
