City of Alton to consider change in residency requirements for city employees
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By Steven Spencer
The City of Alton will soon be considering a proposal to amend city code requiring non-union employees to have their primary residence within the Alton School District.
The code change would make residency requirements for non-union employees the same as union employees, and would allow all employees to hold residence outside of the city limits.
According to a press release from the city, the proposed change would encompass a broader area and allow residency throughout Madison, Jersey, Macoupin and St. Clair counties in Illinois, and St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri.
“This specific geography was chosen as it is the current residency requirement in all of the city’s collective bargaining agreements, as well as for the city’s civil service commission,” the press release states.
Mayor David Goins introduced the resolution to the city council at their Wednesday, April 22, meeting, and will go to the committee of the whole meeting set for Monday, May 11, for further discussion.
The issue of residency was briefly discussed at the council’s April 8 meeting when Alderman Chris Bohn questioned City Council Coordinator Beth Bear if she was a resident of the city yet.
“Are you a resident yet? “ It’s been a year,” Bohn said. “Have you moved into the City of Alton?”
Bear stated that she’s only been employed by the city for 10 months and there is a 12-month probationary period plus 90 days to meet the residency requirements.
“Employees who work side by side, often doing very similar jobs, currently have different rules for where they can establish their residence. This isn’t right. I don’t think that a secretary in one department should have different rules than a secretary in another department,” Mayor Goins stated in the press release. “As we strive to attract the best talent to serve our city, we are thinking of cost-effective ways to recruit and retain highly qualified individuals. Adjusting our residency requirements will help to make the city a more attractive employer to a greater population of individuals.”
According to the press release provided by the city, residency requirements would remain for any elected official and would not affect any city council members, the mayor, city clerk or treasurer.
