Stratford town officials are set to introduce an ordinance that would ban the hiring of close relatives of the town’s top officials. From the Connecticut Post:

If Town Council Chairman Mike Henrick has his way, the town will no longer be able to hire close relatives of the town’s top public officials.

Henrick, R-10, said he will introduce an “anti-nepotism” ordinance to the council when it meets at 8 p.m. today in Town Hall.

Henrick cited both a “very long history of nepotism in Stratford” that predates the present administration, as well as recent events, for drafting the ordinance.

The proposal would apply to relatives of the mayor, chief administrative officer and members of the Town Council.

“Nepotism is rampant in Stratford and has been for at least 20 years,” Henrick said. “It’s time we put a policy on the books to stop it, similar to the school district and many other towns.”
Henrick also pointed to the recent flap over 29-year-old Christian Miron, the brother of Mayor James R. Miron, who was issued a conditional offer of employment as a police officer. Henrick was critical of the job offer since a detailed, nine-page background investigation of the younger Miron — leaked to the media and some council members — while giving Miron an overall recommendation for the post, also raised questions about his viability.

Henrick’s proposal would preclude close relatives from being hired, even if they are qualified for a job. He conceded, however, that the ordinance would have to be “grandfathered” so it would not have an impact on current employees or applicants.

“The town of Stratford will not hire any person to fill any paid employment position who is an immediate family member of the mayor, CAO or of any member of the Town Council,” the proposed ordinance states. “Immediate family member is defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent, spouse of a child, spouse of a sibling, stepchild, stepparent or stepsibling,” according to the proposal.
But some council members think the proposal goes too far.

“I can’t support something that is so restrictive because it would discriminate against qualified people just because they happen to be relatives of certain town officials,” said council Minority Leader Alvin O’Neal, D-2. “I could only support an ordinance that would not allow nepotism in instances when the applicant is clearly not the most qualified candidate for a position,” said O’Neal.

source: Connecticut Post, Stratford official attacks nepotism, RICHARD WEIZEL, May 12, 2008