No action taken on nepotism, elimination of position
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A measure to eliminate future hiring of relatives within city departments was before council for final action Thursday. However, it was again sent back to the city attorney for a change.
The ordinance as presented for action excluded summer employees.
Commissioner John McPeek requested that passage be eliminated from the ordinance.
As drafted, the ordinance prohibits hiring of a list of "immediate family members" and provides for transfers should circumstances require.
Current employees are grandfathered into their positions.
During the meeting McPeek announced he had not placed on the agenda a measure eliminating the position of mayor's secretary.
He cited a lack of council support for the measure that originally had been suggested by former mayor Robert Wilson.
McPeek also addressed the public, saying "(I) want the taxpayers to understand that I have been against the position of mayor's assistant since I was elected seven years ago and I always will (be against it).
"Also, I was against this position being put into a union position and I always will.
"I will fight to eliminate this position to save you, the taxpayers, money. Like my fellow commissioner, Linda Mitacek, says, 'We have to be good stewards of the money.'"
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