U. D. public works union asks again for residency leniency

UPPER DARBY — The president of Public Works Local 234 again pitched his request to lift the residency requirement for township employees and received the same negative response from officials.

William Harrison, of Rosemont Avenue, Drexel Hill, an employee for 11 years, asked council to consider changing the restriction and allow employees to live within 15 miles of the township similar to police and firefighters at council’s meeting.

“My ZIP code does not affect the way I work,” Harrison said. “I’ve lived in Upper Darby since the day I was born and I just think the ordinance is outdated.”

Harrison cited the fact that police, firefighters and Upper Darby School District teachers are not required to live in the township. Mayor Thomas Micozzie stood his ground on the issue.

“I value the work force,” Micozzie said. “Firefighters and police ( residency) is mandated under Act 111, which we fought. It was binding arbitration in 1994. We did not agree.

“I work for Delaware County and I have to live in Delaware County. We have a great community here with 31,000 good housing stocks. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask employees to live in the township. I have received many calls from both sides.”

The residency issue surfaced earlier this year when 19 Upper Darby Township union and nonunion employees, who do not live in the township, were notified they have until the end of the year to move back into the community or lose their job.

According to Micozzie, the new addresses for employees became known when workers filled out the state’s residency certification form for employers to collect earned income taxes.

“There are plenty of people in Upper Darby Township right now who would love to work for Upper Darby Township,” Council President Don Bonnett said. “I get approached by people asking if there are any jobs. There has been no support among council to amend the administrative code where it appears.”

— LINDA REILLY