Save FitchburgTaking Back Our Community

According to The Sentinel and Enterprise, Councilor – at – Large Thomas Conry has filed a petition that would require heads of Fitchburg Departments live in Fitchburg.

The proposed petition would give anyone heading a Fitchburg Department six months to relocate to Fitchburg after signing their contract with the city.  Current department heads would be grandfathered until their contract expires at which point, they too would be given an additional six months to move if given a new contract.

The main idea here is that if you are in charge of Fitchburg Departments then you yourself should be a resident of the city, not just a five day a week employee.  This is most evident in the criticism given to both the Chief of Police and the School Superintendent, neither of whom live in the city or in a community which is similar to Fitchburg.  The question then is how can these Department heads know what is best for Fitchburg if they are not a full time part of it.

On the other hand those that oppose the petition believe that the city will lose valuable employees because of this and that where you live shouldn’t dictate where you work.

The petition will be discussed on January 7th at the city council meeting.  What do you think?