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Demorest council updates employment policy, approves exception allowing police chief’s nephew to work in department
Summary
The City Council amended the employment policy to allow written exceptions with mitigation measures and approved an exception enabling Joe Chastain to serve concurrently in the Demorest Police Department; both votes were 3-1, with Councilman Shawn Allen opposing.
The Demorest City Council on July 17 approved changes to the city’s employment policy that establish a process for limited exceptions and then granted an employment exception under that policy to allow Joe Chastain, identified in the request as the nephew of the police chief, to hold a position in the Demorest Police Department concurrently with the chief.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite presented the resolution updating the employment policy. The changes the council approved specify that the City Council may grant exceptions when it determines doing so is in the city’s best interest but that exceptions may not be made for employees in a dating relationship. Written requests for exceptions must list the names and positions of relatives, the department(s) involved, justification for the exception and proposed measures to mitigate potential conflicts of interest; the resolution also lists factors the council shall consider such as availability of qualified candidates, specialized skills, impact on operations and safeguards to prevent conflicts.
Following the policy change, Chief Chastain presented a written employment request asking that Joe Chastain and the chief be permitted to serve concurrently in the police department. The request, as presented to the council, included the required names, positions, department and proposed mitigation measures. Councilman Jimmy Davis moved to approve the exception; Councilman Andrew Ferguson seconded and the motion carried 3-1 (Councilman Shawn Allen opposed).
Both the policy amendment and the employment exception were recorded as council decisions; the transcript records the vote tally and notes Councilman Allen as the lone opposing vote on both items. The council did not record a roll-call naming each yes vote beyond the motion sponsors and the single recorded no vote.
The council also set a follow-up date for further discussion of Fire Department budget requests for Aug. 5, 2025, and adjourned at 7:11 p.m.
