Freeholders adopt policy banning hiring of relatives

FREEHOLD — The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has adopted a new policy aimed at banning the hiring of relatives by freeholders and county department heads.

According to a press release, the policy prohibits the hiring of relatives for unclassified positions in county government.

Most hiring in county government is done through the New Jersey Civil Service system which for the most past is done through competitive examinations conducted by the state Civil Service Commissions. Unclassified positions are those permitted by law which the freeholders may fill directly, without going through the Civil Service system.

In Monmouth County there are 287 unclassified positions. Of those, only 58 are authorized to the freeholders to fill. The other 229 unclassified positions are filled by various semi-autonomous officials such as the county clerk, surrogate, sheriff, prosecutor, the Board of Taxation, the Board of Elections and Rutgers Extension Service.

In consultation with the county counsel, Freeholder Amy H. Handlin drafted a set of rules for the freeholders to consider. After several discussions, the board adopted the following policy:

• No Monmouth County freeholder shall hire or cause to be hired any person who is a relative of the freeholder for an unclassified position within the county over which the Board of Freeholders has direct hiring authority.

• No Monmouth County freeholder shall influence or attempt to influence the hiring, firing, promotion, demotion or transfer of a relative of the freeholder who is employed or could potentially be employed by the county or any other governmental entity.

• No department head shall hire or cause to be hired any person who is a relative of the department head for a position with the county in the department over which the department head has direct hiring authority.

• No department head shall influence or attempt to influence the hiring, firing, promotion, demotion or transfer of a relative of the department head who is employed by the county.

• "Relative" shall be defined as a parent, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, in-law or step-relative, domestic partner or cohabitant.

The new policy will be distributed to all employees by the Monmouth County Personnel Department, according to the press release.

Currently, none of the 58 unclassified positions are held by relatives of the freeholders. The new policy will take effect prospectively and not affect anyone currently employed by the county.

The Board of Freeholders has no legislative authority over the 53 municipalities in Monmouth County. However, at Handlin’s request, a copy of the new policy will be sent to the 53 municipalities in the county to serve as a model.