City relaxes residency rule for chief

He’ll now pay the cost of commuting to city

By Ed Nadolski

Editor in chief

Saddled with a home in another community that has lingered on the market for two years, City of Burlington Police Chief Peter Nimmer was recently granted some relief from the city’s residency requirement and as part of the change will now pay the cost of commuting.

Nimmer said the changes create a more family-friendly contract and still allow him to be effectively accessible to the city. He plans to move with his family closer to Burlington once his home in Washington County does sell.

Late last year Nimmer, who was hired in 2010, approached City Administrator Kevin Lahner about personally paying the cost of commuting. He also asked officials to consider extending the residency requirement to a 20-mile radius of Burlington – which is the same distance required of the city’s rank and file officers.

In his original contract with the city, Nimmer was required to move into the city within six months. However, his hiring came as the real estate market bottomed out and he’s been unable to sell his home in the Town of Jackson.

As part of his contract, Nimmer is provided a squad car with the fuel paid for by the city.

“I appreciate the understanding that the council showed,” he said, regarding the prolonged arrangement.

However, he said he didn’t feel comfortable with the city paying the cost of his commute of roughly 50 miles each way if he was unable to currently fulfill the letter of his contract.

“I thought it was the right thing to do,” he said about giving up the benefit.

In discussions with Lahner and Mayor Bob Miller, the three also addressed the possibility of loosening the residency requirement for the position.

“I personally have mixed feelings about it,” Nimmer said, referring to the possibility of living outside the city limits. “But I have to try to do what’s best for both (my family and the city).”

Nimmer’s wife is a teacher for a school district on the north shore of Milwaukee County, which has them driving in different directions each day.

“The one thing I’ve discovered is this (commute) takes away from the family,” he said.

Lahner said residency requirements are being expanded or lifted in many communities as the work situations of modern families continue to evolve.

“This allows them from a family perspective a little more flexibility,” he said. “There’s a changing philosophy.”

However, Lahner was also quick to point out that residency requirements still make sense for position such as police chief.

He said he agrees that 20-mile radius is reasonable in that it gives the chief relatively rapid response when needed and also allows him the flexibility to strike a balance with his family life.

The members of the City Council apparently agreed with that assessment, voting 8-0 to approve the contract changes on March 6. Although the vote was taken in open session, the discussion of the matter was closed to the public under a state-allowed exception to the Open Meetings Law for personnel matters.