| Article Last Updated: Friday, April 12, 2002 - 12:00:00 AM MST Council voting on resident rule The city's Civil Service Commission voted unanimously last month to approve the change to its rules. The proposal now needs the blessing of the council and Mayor Joseph P. Ganim. The council is scheduled to meet at City Hall at 7 p.m. Under the change, city residents who take exams for civil service jobs will get a 10 percent boost in their grade, provided they pass the exam without the extra points. Those scoring 75 percent on an exam -- the minimum needed to pass -- would get an additional 7.5 points if they reside in the city, Personnel Director Jack Colligan said. But if the job applicant fails the exam, the additional points would not be applied, so the boost could not lift a failing mark to a passing grade, he said. The change is modeled on Hartford's municipal hiring policy, Colligan said. Most of the state's larger cities, including New Haven, Waterbury and Norwich, have similar procedures, he said. In New Haven, its residents get an additional 5 percent on a passing grade, and in Waterbury and Norwich, residents get an added five points. City Councilmen John Fabrizi, D-134, and Don Clemons, D-139, proposed the change. "A lot of city residents get shut out of city jobs," Fabrizi said. "We believe this will be a great incentive for more city residents to apply for these jobs." For example, in the last class of firefighter recruits, 23 of 25 were from out-of-town -- and several were from other states, Fabrizi said. The proposal is a way for the city to give back to its residents that benefits both, he said. "If you are employed by a municipality and reside there you have an extra level of dedication and pride, both on and off the clock," Fabrizi said. The Civil Service Commission concurred with the council sponsors' thinking, Colligan said, voting unanimously in favor of the change. Kate Ramunni, who covers Bridgeport, can be reached at 330-6361. |