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Ammon council amends personnel policy but removes seasonal nepotism restriction after public objection
Summary
After public comments from seasonal workers, the Ammon City Council on May 7 approved a personnel-policy update that adds certification pay but removes a proposed restriction preventing related seasonal employees from working together; the narrower policy passed 3–2 with one member absent.
Ammon City Council on May 7 approved updates to the city's personnel policy that add a certification-pay provision and revise the nepotism rule, removing a proposed carve-out that would have barred seasonal relatives from working together.
HR Director April Tracy presented the update and defended a broader nepotism restriction intended to prevent relatives from supervising one another. Tracy said the policy aims to prevent conflicts of interest as the city grows. "We are growing and have more of a chance of these things happening and creating problems," she said.
Several seasonal employees, including pool staff, urged the council to preserve summer opportunities. Emily Dallimore told the council the timing was poor and that removing the seasonal allowance would jeopardize plans. "This would be very heartbreaking," she said. Isaac Dallimore urged an exemption for head guards, saying head guards do not handle personnel actions.
Council members debated whether the seasonal carve-out should remain. City Administrator Micah Austin noted that many seasonal positions convert to part time or full time, which complicates enforcement, and that the policy was not intended to be retroactive to current employees.
Council Member Heidi Boyle moved to approve Resolution 2026-010 amending the personnel policy while removing the seasonal-employee portion of the nepotism restriction. The motion carried on a roll-call vote with Nolan Wheeler, Kris Oswald and Boyle voting yes; Scott Wessel and Sid Hamberlin voting no; Jeff Fullmer absent — a 3–2 majority with one absence.
The approved policy adds certification pay as presented and implements a nepotism ban intended to prevent relatives from serving in supervisory relationships; it does not apply retroactively to existing employees, according to HR staff. HR Specialist Rebecca Osai flagged additional complexities should a full-time employee later supervise a related seasonal hire.
Council President Scott Wessel earlier moved to approve the certification-pay policy as presented; that motion was approved separately during the meeting.
What happens next: City staff will incorporate the approved language into the Personnel Policy Manual and apply the new rules to future hires, with the stated exception for currently employed staff. The council did not adopt the stricter seasonal prohibition that some community members had opposed.
