COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, April 17, 2008 9:15 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE, CHAIR COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY BILL 080320 - An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to civil service regulations... RESOLUTION 080336 - Resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to civil service regulations... - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good morning, everybody. Sorry for the delay. This is the Committee on Law and Government. For the record, we have a quorum with myself; Councilman Kenney, Vice-Chair of the Committee; Councilman Goode; and Councilman DiCicco. Mr. Boyle, the Clerk of the Committee, will you please read the bill 12 and resolution before us today.
Ordinance 080320, an ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to civil service regulations to provide that, when eligible lists for appointments and promotions are established, those persons who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior 3 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 to the date of the examination shall prevail over all others who receive the identical test score; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. Resolution 080336, resolution 9 proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to civil service regulations to provide that, when eligible lists for appointments and promotions are established, those persons who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the examination shall prevail over all others who receive the identical test score; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Thank you. We're now ready for witnesses. Mr. Armbrister. 4 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 (Witness approached witness table.)
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed.
Good morning, Councilman Greenlee and members of the Council Committee on Law and Government. My name is Clarence D. Armbrister, Chief of Staff to Mayor Michael A. Nutter, and I'm here this morning to testify in support of proposed Home Rule Charter amendment provided for in Resolution 15 080336 and Bill No. 080320. The measure before you today would amend the City's Charter to provide that in the case of an identical score on an eligible list an appointment or promotion, that a preference will be given to those who are Philadelphia residents. The proposed Charter amendment further specifies that the individual must be a bona fide resident of the City for at least one year prior 5 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 to the date of the examination. While considering this measure, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Philadelphia City Council for passage of Bill No. 080003, which eliminates the requirement that one must be a City resident for at least one year to be eligible for an appointment to a City job. As you know, I testified in support of that measure, and the Mayor will be signing that bill into law very soon. At the time Bill No. 080003 was being considered, several members of Council urged that some type of preference be crafted for City residents. Members expressed what came to be a very legitimate issue, that those who have been living in the City, paying taxes and contributing to our City should receive a preference for a City job. The measure before you today provides a reasonable approach to meeting the desires of the City Administration to increase the potential pool of applicants 6 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 through Bill No. 080003 while also providing a reference for appointments and promotions for City residents. I thank Councilman Goode, the sponsor of this Charter amendment, for his leadership on this issue, and I thank the rest of the Committee for your diligence and working with the Administration and coming up with a satisfactory resolution. This concludes my written testimony, and I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you, Mr. Armbrister. Are there any questions? (No response.)
Seeing none, thank you very much. Just for the record, I will echo your feeling. Thank Councilman Goode for his leadership on this issue and obviously Councilman Kenney for the many years of dealing with this issue. Thank you. 7 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 Is there anyone else to testify on this bill or resolution? (No response.)
Seeing none, that will conclude the hearing on the Committee on Law and Government. We'll go into the public meeting, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Goode regarding Bill No. 11 080320.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill No. 080320 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. All in favor please say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? 8 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 (No response.)
The motion carries and Bill 080320 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and, further, that the rules of Council be suspended to ask for a first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Goode regarding Resolution 12 080336.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Resolution 15 080336 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
The motion carries, and Resolution 080336 is reported out of this Committee with a 9 4/17/08 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 080320 favorable recommendation. Being no further business before this Committee, the Committee stands in recess. Thank you very much. (Committee on Law and Government adjourned at 9:20 a.m.) - - - 10 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on April 17, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)