(A) The employment of immediate family can cause various problems, including charges of favoritism, conflicts of interest, family discord, and scheduling conflicts that work to the disadvantage of the city, its employees and elected officials. Therefore, it is policy of the city to not hire immediate family members, as defined by this section, within the same city departments and/or in supervisory position over one another. The practice where an employee is hired through competitive examinations such as a police or fire recruitment, administered by the independent Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, will remain until such time legislation changes their authority.
(B) No individual shall be hired by the city for any position that would result in the prospective employee from being supervised by a member of the prospective employee’s immediate family as defined by this section.
(C) If two employees in the same department or an employee and an elected official become immediate family, regardless if there is a supervisory/subordinate relationship, one of the two must transfer departments, if a position for which he or she is qualified is available. If no position is available, one employee must either voluntarily quit or terminate his or her employment within 90 days of the date in which the two became immediate family. The choice regarding which employee shall leave shall be made by the employees. If there is an unwillingness to make a decision, the employee with the least seniority shall be terminated, unless the City Council determines that the needs of the city demand otherwise. In the event an employment position that will not create any prohibited family employment relationship described above becomes available within one year of the employee’s termination, said position shall be offered to the terminated employee to the extent he or she is qualified and able for such position.
(D) If, prior to the effective date of this section, two or more immediate family members are employed within the same city department and no supervisory/subordinate relationship exists situation exists, those individuals affected will be allowed to remain in their current positions until such time that a supervisory/subordinate relationship arises at which time the above-referenced 90-day period shall commence for any employee transfers or resignations.
(E) For purposes of this section, the term “immediate family member” is defined as the employee’s spouse, civil union spouse/partner, dependent child (biological, foster or step), father, mother, son, daughter (including step and in-law), sister, brother, grandparent or grandchild.
(Ord. 19-O-2217, passed 2-6-2019)