Policies now in place to stop nepotism-Officials can no longer hire relatives
In the wake of concerns raised by the recent Joy Slatton theft trial, community leaders say governmental nepotism policies are now in effect which will prevent the hiring of close family members by not only at-will government employees but also by elected officials.
‘The language is pretty clear,’ said County Executive John Pelham of a state private act adopted by the Warren County Commission establishing a local nepotism policy. ‘The way I understand the county’s policy, there can be no family members working under the supervision of another family member. That would include all county offices right down to this office.’
The private act, passed by a two-thirds vote of the county commission and enacted into law in June 2006, is similar to that which has been policy for the city of McMinnville since 1983. The nepotism policies state that no employees ‘who are relatives shall be placed within the same direct line of supervision whereby one relative is responsible for supervising the job performance or work activities of another relative.’
While the policy has been on the books since 1983 in the city, and for over a year for the county, recent revelations made during the Joy Slatton trial have raised questions about how much leeway elected officials have in hiring their relatives.
Slatton faces an assortment of misdemeanor and felony charges for allegedly paying one of her daughters for time she did not work in the trustee’s office. The jury returned deadlocked in Slatton’s trial earlier this month. She will likely be tried again next year.
It was the Slatton case which prompted county officials to pass the nepotism rule which Pelham said no one has challenged since it has been on the books. The policy does not impact people who were already employed by their relatives as they were grandfathered in. Should an elected official try to hire a relative now, they could be sued by Warren County.
Along with hiring family members, the nepotism policies also address people who marry their bosses. According to both city and county policies, if a supervisor and employee get married, one of the newlyweds must either transfer or resign.
According to McMinnville city administrator David Rutherford, there is a slight exception to the rule in cases of recreational department employees who work on a seasonal basis. Rutherford said the exception was made for lifeguards who work during the summer.
Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale noted that while there are many instances of husband and wife, or brother and sister working at the same school, they are not allowed to supervise one another.
Dr. Hale said the board of education has provided for one slight exception where Pioneer basketball coach Ryan Smith is helped by assistant coach Alan Smith, who is his brother. It was noted girls basketball coach Ann Eades’ brother, athletic direction Andy Jacobs, is not her direct supervisor and therefore they are not in violation of school policy. Eades’ direct supervisor is WCHS principal James Bennett.
The definitions of the nepotism policies list a ‘relative’ as being a parent, foster parent, parent-in-law, child, spouse, brother, foster brother, sister, foster sister, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, or other family member who resides in the same household.
A recent reader poll conducted by the Southern Standard showed 84 percent of respondents felt there should be a uniform rule banning nepotism in government.
‘The way I understand the county’s policy, there can be no family members working under the supervision of another family member.’ John Pelham