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Des Plaines alderman wants department heads to live in town

Des Plaines Alderman Dick Sayad is renewing a push to require city department leaders to live in town, three years after the rule was repealed.

Right now, Fire Chief Alan Wax is the only city department boss who lives within city limits.

Sayad has often brought up the issue since the council voted 5-3 in June 2013 to overturn the requirement. It may be as early as Nov. 7 when the issue is formally reintroduced for a council debate. Sayad needs two other aldermen to agree to put an item on a meeting agenda, and he says he has that.

"If you get money in this town, I think you should live here, work with the people and see what's going on," Sayad said. "It's a plus that we would have. I know we (aldermen) have to live in town and we have to share with our people. I think the eight (department heads) should be doing it too."

The council in 2001 adopted the requirement following a nonbinding, advisory referendum in which 65 percent of voters showed support for it.

Opponents of the residency rule argued when it was repealed that the city had trouble finding qualified applicants for several key jobs.

The requirement was dropped months after the hiring of Police Chief Bill Kushner, who otherwise would have been required to relocate from Chicago. After the rule was stricken, City Manager Mike Bartholomew moved to the South Suburbs from Des Plaines.

Des Plaines drops residency clause for department heads

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