The aldermen earlier this week voted 7-0 to amend the city’s “residency requirement” for local municipal employees so that its provisions can be waived if an occasion arises where the hiring of a qualified “outsider” is deemed to be in the best interests of the public.

Ald. Robert Van Campen, who sponsored the amendment, asserted that “the waiver option makes the residency requirement work”.

The waiver option was a part of the original residency law proposal. It was approved by a majority of the aldermen, but was deleted by the common council.

Proponents of the waiver provision maintain that sometimes a city position calls for a certain skill, license/certification or experience that no Everett candidate has.

In cases like that, Van Campen’s amendment would authorize the mayor to consider hiring the best qualified non-resident.

The mayor would have to submit, in writing, to the city council the reasons why it would be in the city’s best interests to grant a waiver to hire the “outsider”.

It would be up to the city council to grant – or deny – such a waiver by a majority vote of its members.

Mayor Carlo DeMaria was on hand at city hall Monday night to tell the aldermen that he supports the waiver amendment and urges its passage.

The residency requirement for city workers (excluding department heads) is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2012. A similar residency law for police and firefighters became effective in January of this year.