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WEIRTON -- The effort to restrict the living requirements of municipal employees may be coming to an end following discussion during a Weirton Council workshop Wednesday night.
During council's October regular meeting, Ward 4 Councilman George Ash put forward an ordinance which would have required all future municipal hires to live within the city limits. An amendment offered on the floor, instead would have established a 20-minute response radius, mirroring a policy for employees of the Weirton Area Water Board and the Weirton Sanitary Board.
There currently are no limits on residencies for city employees.
City Attorney Vince Gurrera noted no current city employee would be affected by any changes to the requirement.
"If you're a current employee, it doesn't apply to you," Gurrera said. "You're grandfathered in no matter what position you have."
On Wednesday, however, council disagreed with whether the proposed response radius should move forward, or if other amendments should be made.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone, who made the amendment in October, explained she was concerned about limiting the city on hiring opportunities.
Previous discussions by officials have noted several departments, including Public Works and the Weirton Police Department, have had difficulties in recent years finding candidates living inside the city.
Ward 6 Councilman Enzo Fracasso said, while he, too, doesn't want to limit the hiring pool, he would prefer basing it on a specified mileage, rather than a response time.
"You can cover a lot of distance in 20 minutes," Fracasso said.
Ash offered to pull the ordinance entirely, saying he feels municipal employees should be residents of the city.
"If they don't live in the city limits, I don't want them working here," Ash said, noting he wants employees to also be contributing to the city through taxes and fees. "But, who cares? Let's just give the city away."
Gurrera said, at this point in the process, Ash would be unable to pull the ordinance; however, it could be voted down during the next council meeting.
The second reading of the ordinance currently is on the agenda for the regular council meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)