Green Bay residency rule won't change

GREEN BAY - On Tuesday night, Green Bay's personnel committee couldn't agree to any change to the city's residency rule. That means department heads still must live in Green Bay unless the city council grants a waiver.

“I'm glad that the waiver is still there,” said Alderman Joe Moore. “I think the waiver needs to be utilized and I think it needs to be used if the right candidate comes forward.”

“I still feel to this day that if you're a director, have the prestige job in Green Bay, you should live in Green Bay,” said Alderman Tom De Wane.

Alderperson Amy Kocha proposed eliminating the ordinance, but no one on the personnel committee agreed. Moore isn't on the committee, but sides with Kocha on the issue.

“I look at the residency as a whole now with this issue where we have 950 city employees and as the residency rule stands now it only applies to 9 people, so less than 1% of our entire workforce is held to this policy,” said Moore.

De Wane wanted to strengthen the city limits requirement. He proposed eliminating the chance for a waiver, but his motion failed.

“I just wanted to make it more concrete, I wanted to make sure this doesn't happen again in the process,” said De Wane.

Both sides agree they hope all Green Bay employees choose to live in the city. They are exploring a survey that could help make the city a more attractive place to live.