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Date: 1/18/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The residency of city employees took center stage during the Jan. 10 City Council meeting, with Councilor At-Large Justin Hurst raising concerns about the city’s enforcement of employee’s collective bargaining agreement.
Hurst showcased his grievances by issuing an order request alongside Councilor At-Large Tracye Whitfield for the city to maintain compliance with the residency ordinance. The request comes in the wake of Hampden Superior Court Judge David Hodge’s Dec. 21 ruling to establish a seven-member Residency Compliance Commission and independent commissions within each personnel department to enforce previously ignored residency infractions within the city.
On Jan. 7, Mayor Domenic Sarno released a statement about the residency issue. He appointed six members to the seven-member residency commission, with City Council President Marcus Williams appointing the seventh member.
The commission members are:
• Attorney Talia Gee – Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
• Gladys Oyola – City Clerk/Election Commissioner
• Captain Drew Piemonte – Springfield Fire Department / Union Representative
• Melanie Acobe – Budget/Grants Director
• Lavar Click-Bruce – Mayoral Aide
• Alex Sherman – Election Commissioner
• Ward 2 Councilor Michael Fenton
Hurst expressed frustration with the city’s newfound attention on the matter after not receiving previous recognition. “Judge Hodge made it clear that prior to this Friday, the city of Springfield never had such a commission, but indeed had a duty to create one within accordance to the law,” said Hurst.
Continuing in his detailing of the council order, Hurst stressed the importance of developing and fortifying the city-wide compliance commission along with the commissions specific to each department.
One method of enforcement includes adding the presence of the Springfield Police Department in investigations of potential breaks in residency compliances. “It’s something we need to do, and it’s called for us to have in the ordinance,” said Hurst.
City Solicitor Edward Pikula joined the council to speak on the issue. While he believes residency ordinances need to be followed, he stated that the compliance can only be enforced if their documentation doesn’t match their residency.
“I’m not sure we want the police to track where they are sleeping at night. The issue of residency is not where a person lays their head at night, but where their legal domicile is,” said Pikula, who stressed that documents like voting and tax records are the essential facets in proving residency. Still, Pikula acknowledged there needs to be improvements to the city’s residency compliance commission.
“Through the collective bargaining process and the hard work of this council, every single one of the city’s collective bargaining agreements is now subjected to residency…Residency is a rule and it should be followed,” said Fenton.
The council ultimately approved Hurst’s order in a unanimous vote.
The City Council will meet again on Jan. 24.