LETTER: Many factors must be considered when hiring city staff

SooToday received the following letter about city council discussing if department heads should live within the city limits.

This letter is in regards to the council determining if a senior staff member, and I shall add member of Council, should live within the City limits.

It seems to me several obvious considerations should be considered:

1. The responsibility of the position during an emergency (i.e. an oil spill from an ocean liner in the St. Marys River).
2. The responsibility of the position to know the locations of concerns and potential conditions around the City, to be familiar with the 'lay of the land.'
3. The responsibility of the position to be able to respond quickly for emergency meetings requiring their expertise.
4. To be familiar with the culture of the community and its residents (i.e. the need for recreation facilities for hockey).
5. The travel time from the employees home to the various buildings or locations of the City.

These are important considerations that the City Council need to realize and take into consideration to meet the needs of the position's responsibilities.

Karen Gibbs
Sault Ste. Marie