Published: June 26, 2008 10:50 am      

LEGISLATURE: County enacts nepotism policy

ALBION — The Orleans County Legislature established its first employee nepotism policy at its regular meeting Wednesday.

The policy was adapted from a policy already in place in Cortland County, said Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt. It is designed to protect employees and guard against situations in which nepotism — favoritism based on a familial or personal relationship — could occur, said Legislator Lynne Johnson.

The establishment of a policy will ensure fairness and maintain accountability, the resolution passed by the Legislature states. The county’s acting CAO is responsible to police it.

“With our county being so small, it is easy to happen,” she said. “We didn’t want to come into a situation where we had an employee at risk.”

“There was no specific promptness of it.”

The policy holds that no one person shall be appointed or employed in a position that would put them under the supervision of a relative or member of their household. Similarly, no one person shall be responsible for auditing or evaluating the work of a relative or member of their household.

Exceptions can be granted by the CAO in unique circumstances and must result in employment that would benefit the county, the policy states. In the event of an exception, an alternative procedure for supervision shall be instituted.

When existing employees marry or begin to cohabit, efforts will be made to minimize problems of supervision. Any proposed alternate plans need CAO approval.

Legislator Gary Kent was quick to point out that the policy does not prevent the county from hiring relatives.

“We’re just talking about the chain of command,” he said.

In other news the Orleans County Legislature:

n Approved the sales made at Wednesday morning’s auction of county property. Most of the parcels were acquired through foreclosure when the owners failed to pay their taxes, Kent said. There were 62 live bidders and at least 37 properties were purchased, said County Treasurer Sue Heard. Eighteen of the purchases were made online by individuals out of state, including Nevada, Connecticut, New Jersey and Canada.

The ability to auction county property on the Internet was introduced for the first time last year.

All winning bidders made their deposits before leaving the auction, she said. Purchasers were individuals, companies, investment groups and Orleans Real Property LLC. The total bid amount on all properties at the end of the auction was $226,900.

“I would say there were some very good deals, if you were looking for a house,” Heard said.

The number of individuals outside of the county who purchased property demonstrates that Orleans County has a lot to offer, Kent said.

“It’s a good investment,” he said. “There are a lot of people moving into the county.”

n Appointed five inaugural members to the County Board of Ethics on staggered terms: Dorothy Casey of Medina, Joseph Gehl of Kent, Benjamin Jones of Albion, Jeffrey Schwartz of Albion and Bryan Spangler of Medina. Spangler’s term will expire Dec. 31. Casey’s and Schwartz’s terms will expire Dec. 31, 2009, and Gehl’s and Jones’ terms will expire Dec. 31, 2010.

n Gave Tourism Director Wayne Hale approval to take the lead in a joint application with Niagara, Monroe, Wayne and Oswego counties, as well as the Town of Greece, for funding under the New York State Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to prepare a regional harbor dredging plan.

n Agreed to consider Legislator George Bower’s request that they make all county property smoke-free environments. The area’s schools and hospitals already have the policy in place, forcing employees or visitors to leave the premises to light up, he said.

“I really believe this county should be smoke-free,” he said. “It’s not something we like to do — to take rights away. ... (But) I think it’s time we did this.”

Contact reporter Nicole Colemanat 798-1400, ext. 8227.