[Vision2020] One more question for City Council candidates

Mon Oct 3 11:11:40 PDT 2005

John,

Thank you for your thoughtful answers to the questions posed by Joan.   I am very glad that you and some of the other candidates believe that voices not within the city limits ought to be heard, considered, and responded to.  Good (and bad) ideas are not generally bounded by pseudo-geographical boundaries.

Having lived in several places were similar issues arose, I agree with most of your answer below.  In my opinion, it would be an unjustifiable and capricious use of power to require rank and file city employees to live within the city limits and for many of the reasons (and others) you list.

However, there may be some exceptions.  As you know, elected city officials must reside within the city limits by law.  One of the reasons for this requirement is so that these officials are affected by the consequences of their official decisions and acts.

There are certain executive positions where the same argument can be made.  The City Manager position is certainly one of those.  Other positions include the Community Development Director, the head of Parks and Recreation, the City Attorney, the head of city engineering (if Moscow has one), and the head of the department in charge of road, bridge, street, etc. construction and maintenance.

The aforenamed officials make decisions and, despite protests to the contrary, make working public policy which affects all citizens.  They ought be made to live with their decisions and acts if for no other reason than to see and to live with the results.

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

(208) 882-7975
waf at moscow.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Dickinson 
  To: 'Joan Opyr' ; 'Vision2020 Moscow' 
  Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2005 11:22 PM
  Subject: RE: [Vision2020] One more question for City Council candidates

  Joan, I will answer this one additional question if you promise to ask at least one more question sometime this month, because people don't ask me questions often enough. So, anyway, thanks for the opportunity to answer.

  6) Would you support requiring city staff to live inside Moscow city limits?

  No. I think that where a person lives is dependant on so many factors and that living in a city provides only a few advantages for a city staff person. Here are a few reasons that someone might not be living in Moscow: I might not be able to afford a home in Moscow; I might be living on my grandfather's family farm; I might have a lot of money and decide to live on 40 acres just outside of town; or whatever. The choice of a home is complex and personal. About the advantages of living in town - they can get to city hall sooner in an emergency situation; they pay the same taxes & rates as everyone else in town; they might shop locally more often. But the more important issues are can they perform their job and do they have the community's interest at heart. I believe strongly that staff can perform their job and love the community without living here. 

  Now, aren't you all happy that I am on City Council and will be for two more years (especially if you are a city staff person).

  John Dickinson
  Moscow City Council

  > -----Original Message-----

  > From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-

  > bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Joan Opyr

  > Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2005 7:12 PM

  > To: Vision2020 Moscow

  > Subject: [Vision2020] One more question for City Council candidates

  > 

  > I'd like to add something to my original five questions:

  > 

  > 6) Would you support requiring city staff to live inside Moscow city

  > limits?

  > 

  > Just curious,

  > 

  > Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment

  > www.auntie-establishment.com

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