Monday, June 12, 2000
Residency proposal called vague
Hamilton survey elicits criticism from employees
By Earnest Winston
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — A proposed ordinance that would change residency requirements for city workers is worded vaguely, according to workers who responded to a survey.
Some of the 60 employees who commented said residency should be limited to Butler County for non-essential and non-emergency per sonnel, and suggested city officials clearly define words such as “corporate and city limits” and “emergency.”
However, City Manager Steve Sorrell said the ordinance's vagueness was by design.
“I think that was intended by City Council because they didn't want to place any restrictions. If council wants to tighten up the ordinance and make it more specific, that's certainly up to them. But it was intended to be very generic and that's exactly what it is,” Mr. Sorrell said.
Council told the city administration in April to draft an ordinance that allows em ployees to live outside the city. The city has no current ordinance, but the city manager administers a residency policy.
The draft ordinance would affect only employees whose collective bargaining and civil service agreements dictate specific residency requirements, as well as those who must live within a certain distance or drive time from a given location.
About 46 percent of Hamilton's 750 employees live outside the city limits. Those employees living outside of Hamilton likely will not be affected by any new residency requirements.
Councilman Richard Holzberger has said the ordinance is needed because of a perception among some city employees that Mr. Sorrell unevenly implements the residency policy. Mr. Sorrell considers financial hardship, family, property ownership and children established in schools when making his decisions.
Since January 1999, Mr. Sorrell has granted a handful of exceptions to the policy. An administrative directive from the 1960s gives him the authority to establish residency requirements.
One theory is that requiring residents to live in Hamilton will keep property tax dollars inside the city.
But Vice Mayor Tom Nye said “the city gets extremely little property tax. There will be a few pennies there, but not a lot.” Mr. Nye, who opposes residency requirements, said most of the money the city collects from property tax goes to the county and state.
Donald Huber, coordinator for Team Hamilton, a group that facilitates communication between city workers and managers, sent letters to labor leaders, directors, chiefs and several committees seeking comment about the draft ordinance.
“There were some questions raised which will have to be answered by the administration, the city and the law department. Those are mostly individual questions,” Mr. Huber said.
Mr. Holzberger said because council is on a summer schedule — meaning members meet once a month, instead of twice — “it will probably be July or August before we have (the ordinance) brought back to us” for a vote.
Speedway drives cash to N.Ky.
Stadium lease has loophole for extras
Reading exam doubles CPS summer school
Program hits home for teacher
Officer killed in motorcycle crash
Preserving city's broadcast history seems left to us
AIM leader's imprisonment pits protesters, FBI
Careless smoking blamed in fatal fire
Cutting welfare dependency by building self-esteem
Marchers assert rights
Background check may not show crime
Baptist revisions debated
CSO, Riverbend, Shakespeare blend into a satisfying mix
Fat Wally needs more space
Grads may be back as educators
Monroe educators are ready to move forward
Music and much more
Residency proposal called vague
Beating the heat in your own back yard
Pig parade: Pigasus
Program helps low-income families buy homes
Results of our news poll
Woman set for release today
GET TO IT
Tristate digest
