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Mayor Houston allows residency referendum to move forward Aug 17, 2012

DEANA STROISCH
The State Journal-Register

Springfield Mayor Mike Houston said Friday he will “let the people vote” on whether future city employees should be required to live in the city. The mayor said he signed off on the advisory referendum — which he called meaningless — because seven aldermen wanted to put the issue before voters on Nov. 6.
“The question will be what the members of the city council will do if the voters vote for a residency requirement in their wards,” Houston said. “Will they then vote to pass an ordinance creating a residency requirement? That is the question which remains to be answered.”

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, who sponsored the ordinance, said the mayor deserved credit for signing the measure. “Mayor Houston demonstrates respect for the council, and shows he is open to the views of the voters on an important long-term, strategic public policy question,” McMenamin said.

Putting the question on the ballot will cost the city less than $500, the mayor said, though he added that actually implementing a residency requirement would cost much more. The mayor on Friday again stressed his support for a residency requirement, but said it probably could apply only to new non-union employees.

Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner said she is glad the mayor allowed the referendum to move forward. “There has been so much discussion around this issue, but quite frankly, we have publicly heard from only a few individuals,” she said. “The referendum will give us an opportunity to hear from as many people living within the city of Springfield who choose to speak through their vote.”

Referendum wording

The advisory referendum that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot:

“Should the city of Springfield City Council adopt an ordinance establishing a residency requirement for employees of the City of Springfield hired after the effective date of passage of such an ordinance?”

Read the full article at sj-r.com…