March 19th, 2018
Hornell Mayor John Buckley 3-19-2018
HORNELL, NY – The Hornell Common Council approved two major resolutions Monday night affecting the city’s Chamberlain term and the residency requirement policy.
The Mayor’s and the Chamberlains election will now be staggered so that no matter how the vote goes, neither will be elected to a new position in the same year. Both will be serving 4 year terms. According to Buckley, this will make any new elected officials transition into city hall a lot smoother. The Chamberlains position was previously a two year term. This is still not set in stone as it will have to go on a ballot for voters’ approval in the next general election, it will be a referendum on the ballot.
Also a few amendments were made to the city’s residency requirement policy. Any new employee hired by the city will still have to be a city resident within 6 months of hiring with a few exceptions. Part time or seasonal employees will not have to meet this requirement, lack of applicants for a position also qualifies, and a required specific skill for a position would also get an exemption. If it is deemed that a new employee’s residency is not in the best interest of the city, a wavier will also be granted.
City employees that do not meet the requirements will now go in front of the Law & Ordinance Committee instead of the Public Safety Board, and an initial decision and possible wavier will be made by the full Common Council.
In other news there were some major budgets adjustments to reflect unforeseen expenditures and unexpected grants, and permission was given to the Mayor, City Chamberlain and City Clerk to draw checks to pay bills.
And finally Larry Fitts resignation as Assessor was accepted effective March 30th, 2018 with Cindy Burdell filling in the rest of that term and possibly another.
