From Democratic mayoral candidate John Gomes:
GOMES LOOKS TO HIRE BRIDGEPORT RESIDENTS FOR MUNICIPAL POSITIONS
Bridgeport Democratic Mayoral candidate John M. Gomes stated today that unlike the politics, patronage and cronyism that pervades the current administration, when elected he is committed to hiring Bridgeport residents to fill Bridgeport municipal positions.
“I will look to hire Bridgeport residents for all new hires on the city payroll. I believe that our residents are smart enough, creative enough, driven enough and love this City enough to handle our problems and revitalize this community. I do not want employees taking their pay checks and then driving back to their homes in the suburbs, and I reject the notion that it is necessary to open up the candidate pool to outside towns to ensure enough qualified candidates.”
Gomes added: “Look at the current mayor’s hires. The Chief Administrative Officer lives in Monroe, The Director of Economic Development lives in New York, the Director of Civil Service lives in Stratford.
“I could go on and on and the only similarity is that it seems that with this administration, it is considered a detriment if you do happen to live in Bridgeport.
“Today the average city employee earns approximately $52,000, while the average Bridgeport household income is about $27,000. The city would benefit from having more of its employees, especially those who are higher paid, living and paying taxes in the city.
“According to state statute, municipalities are not allowed to require employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement to live where they work.
“However, the same is not true for non-union department heads. We always talk about looking for the best talent and I think the best talent is right here among us.” he said.
Gomes went on further to say, “What is allowed today is giving residents who apply for nondepartmental head positions an advantage. Some municipalities give residents bonus points on examinations. New Haven and Waterbury give resident applicants a five to 10 point bonus on civil service examinations thus increasing their final scores and chances of being hired. Branford gives extra points to resident volunteer firefighters applying for paid positions. And New Britain places the three residents with the highest scores on the job examination with the five applicants with the highest scores in the final selection pool.
“New Haven has taken the lead in urging the state to change the laws regarding residency requirements and allow municipalities to impose residency requirements for all new hires.
“Without hesitation, I will eagerly join them in this endeavor.”
This is the ONLY time a mayor can provide jobs in a large number and that is when civil service examinations especially for fire and police. These good paying entry-level positions should go to the residents who live in Bridgeport, who pay taxes in Bridgeport, who have their family in Bridgeport, who vote in Bridgeport and who care about Bridgeport.
Civil Service must not change the requirements in testing thereby that gives Bridgeport residents a step up on out-of-towners.
I am in full agreement with Mr. Gomes’ statement, “Today the average city employee earns approximately $52,000, while the average Bridgeport household income is about $27,000. The city would benefit from having more of its employees, especially those who are higher paid, living and paying taxes in the city.” Let’s hire those qualified candidates from Bridgeport.
Yes, and the current fire chief, who lives in Monroe next door to Mario Testa, has just negotiated a new contract with the City. It must be secret, because it hasn’t been announced. I understand it is covered under the state’s “DROP” program. That’s the ” deferred retirement option plan.”
The chief retires at his current rate, but the pension is “saved” for the five-year contract, and the city pays him his salary … only, but probably much higher than it was. His contract ran out in April, I wonder when the mayor will announce this?
Employment Discrimination in Connecticut Avoid employment discrimination against protected classes in Connecticut. What are the protected classes in Connecticut? In all 50 states, federal law makes it illegal to discriminate based on:
Race, Color, National origin, Religion, Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), Disability, Age (40 and older), Citizenship status, Genetic information.
Probably right after the election.
Mr. Gomes to add to your list, Public facilities director lives in Newtown as does the new Police Chief. The head of the BOE lives out of town. I think an easier way to figure this out is to list the number of department heads who live IN Bridgeport.
The decisions or lack of decisions made by these people do not directly affect these department heads or their families.
Examples:
1. Head of the BOE Ramos: His kids do not go to school here and are not affected by the mismanagement of school funds nor are they affected by a 68% dropout rate.
2. PUBLIC FACILITIES: Not affected by dirty streets and neighborhoods. Not affected by millions of pot holes. Not affected by poor plowing during winter storms.
3. Police Chief: Not affected by increase in murders or armed robberies. Not affected by lack of response from patrol as there are only 21 overworked cops on duty in patrol per shift. Just not affected.
4. Fire Chief: Not affected by closed fire houses or reduced manning of fire companies.
5. CAO: Not effected by shallow waterways. Just not affected period.
None of them pay taxes here so they are not affected by increases in their budgets or by lack of manning in their departments. They can afford to budget for jobs that will not be filled because they are not paying.
One last thing, none of them are affected by increase in gasoline prices as we pay to have them drive city vehicles 24-7.
I believe Sherwood lives in Farfield.
*** Seems the majority of the higher good-paying city government jobs are held by outsiders who do not pay taxes nor vote in Bpt, with the remaining medium- to lower-paying jobs spread among political paybacks & family members, then Bpt residents! Topped off with many city depts.in general that are “top heavy” with little room for incentive for advancement, along with a weak workers’ union. *** CHANGE ***
It’s in the city charter the police chief must move to the city within 12 months of being sworn in. Will he?
BARF, I have a few questions for you. First, has the City Council approve the fire chief’s new contract and what is his new salary? Second, how much has the City paid for OUTSIDE legal help in the fire department and what attorney received those taxpayer dollars?
We just tried this social engineering with the new police class that’s in training now. Very few from the city could make it all the way through the process. Stupid rule that panders to the takers, not the providers!!!
Barry Soitera, perhaps you can tell us what the social engineering was that Bridgeport residents fail?