Should Westminster’s top workers live locally?

Westminster’s police chief, fire chief, and city administrator all share at least one thing in common.  They do not live within the city limits.  And requiring them to live in the city or at least close by was debated during last night’s council meeting.  With the end result being the city council on record in a narrow vote as preferring that employees of their type live inside the city, but not a requirement.  The debate ensued specifically whether to amend the city’s employee policy now that the police chief is retiring and interviews for a replacement are to begin soon.  As an example of the city’s first-year administrator, Kevin Bronson, there was an understanding on his hire that he doesn’t have to live in Westminster.  A shortage of available housing is said to complicate the idea of requiring city workers to live inside the city.  Cited was the example of the city’s first-year utilities director who re-located from California.  Leigh Baker told the city council he had trouble finding satisfactory housing in the city, but accomplished that after a couple of tries.