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Date:                December 14, 2005

To:                   Members of the House Local and Municipal Government and Urban Revitalization

From:               Susan J. Cave, Executive Director

Subject:            Opposition to SB 82

SB 82 is currently scheduled for a possible vote in committee, Thursday, December 15, 2005.

This is not the first session that an anti-residency bill has been before the General Assembly.  Over these many years the reasons for opposing such legislation have remained the same.

SB 82 is an attempt to substitute the judgment of the General Assembly for local officials and local residents on matters dealing with local municipal employees.

SB 82 is a blatant attempt to overturn by state statute, charter provisions and ordinance provisions which are voted on by residents of a municipality.  Local voters are important to us.  Those same local voters should be able to rely on the fact that their voice once recorded as a vote on a local  issue should have meaning and be respected by the state.

Not all cities and villages by any means adopt residency requirements.  This emphasizes the fact that it is indeed a local matter - one that addresses certain local issues only.

I am enclosing a brief commentary on the issue and a summary of information gathered on voter approved and other residency requirements.

I urge you to read the attached two pages and then vote no on SB 82.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.