Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A four-year contract for Springfield firefighters passed the city council Tuesday, but the vote was not unanimous.

Ald. Shawn Gregory (pictured, left) said perhaps it’s time to again require city employees to live in the city. “The jobs that we are struggling to find people for is where the moratorium (imposed on the residency requirement) should be, not on the firefighters and police and areas that I believe that we have a good pool” of candidates, Gregory said Tuesday.

“I feel like we cut ourselves in our minority hiring,” said Gregory, “and people in the city of Springfield should def have first crack at these fine jobs.” Applicants do earn points in the process for being city residents, though.

Corporation counsel Greg Moredock told the council it’s a matter of collective bargaining. “The city can negotiate it. If the city wants to reimpose a residency requirement, the city would go back to the bargaining table.”

The vote was 7-0-1. Ald. Roy Williams and Ald. Lakeshia Purchase were absent.