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Public commenter urges council to adopt nepotism ordinance after earlier hiring concerns
Summary
Resident Jeff Cook urged Mentor City Council to adopt a nepotism ordinance and said he found evidence the engineering job created last year had been promised to a council member’s son and was not posted for applicants.
During the Feb. 4 meeting of the Mentor City Council, resident Jeff Cook addressed council during the public-comment portion to urge passage of a proposed nepotism ordinance and raised concerns about a prior hiring process.
Cook identified himself and his address and asked council to pass the ordinance to prohibit use of public office to secure employment for relatives. He cited the Ohio Revised Code and said, “using the authority or influence of a public position to secure authorization of employment of a family member is prohibited,” and he referenced Ohio Revised Code chapter 102, section 2921.42 while urging council action.
Cook said he had reviewed emails and meeting materials related to a previously created engineering job and alleged the position had been promised to a council member’s son before the council vote that created the position; he also said the job was not posted for general applicants. Cook reminded council that on the ordinance’s initial presentation five council members supported referral while two members — Scott Marne and Matt Donovan, as identified in the transcript — recorded abstentions on the first vote to move the measure forward. The ordinance was set for a third reading in two weeks.
Ending
Council announced Ordinance 25-O-001 (establishing a nepotism policy) will return for third reading at the council meeting scheduled in two weeks.
