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At their Wednesday meeting, a majority of city council members voted to update an ordinance that gives preference to job applicants who have an Asbury Park address.

If the ordinance passes, city residents — defined as any person whose permanent home is within city limits — would get even more priority consideration for non-uniformed classified civil service position, according to city documents. Most classified positions require the applicant also pass a civil service exam based on what the position entails.

Previously, city residents were given priority “whenever possible.” The new ordinance sets a more serious tone.

Open positions would be advertised in local newspapers and applicants would be subject to a hierarchy that places city residents at the top. If no city resident is qualified for the position or none apply, the city would then seek to hire, in descending order, other residents of Monmouth County, residents of neighboring counties, other New Jersey residents, and lastly, out-of-state residents.

The city manager, in consultation with the city’s personnel committee, would interview qualified applicants and ultimately make the final selection. In the city’s form of government, elected officials set policy but the city manager has final say on most appointments and terminations. Council members select the city manager and chief financial officer.

Current employees who fall under the employment categories affected by the amendment are not required to move to the city, and moving forward, new hires who do not live in the city are not required to move here.

Not requiring residency for new employees within a certain time period is a bone of contention for sitting Councilman and Mayor-elect John Moor, who provided the only dissenting vote.

“It’s not strong enough,” he said.

Moor believes new hires who do not live in the city should be required to relocate within a set amount of time. For the past several months, Moor has voted against approving the city’s payroll to send a political message that city hall needs to review their hiring practices and prioritize giving jobs to residents.

Members of the city’s police and fire departments are unaffected by the new law; the laws that governs their hiring process falls under state statute.

Members of the public will have a chance to weigh in on the matter at a public hearing scheduled for the Dec. 3 regular meeting.

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