West Deptford appointment prompts nepotism questions
Town officials are clear that no violation occurred, but the appointment of a new deputy clerk speaks to standards that vary across the state.
The recent hiring of a deputy clerk in West Deptford by Township Committee has raised questions about the township's anti-nepotism policies, or lack thereof.
The selection of Janell Diaco to be the deputy clerk was made at the annual township reorganization last week with the votes of Mayor Denice DiCarlo and Committeemen James Mehaffey and Adam Reid – three Democrats who now comprise the majority of the five-member committee previously under Republican control.
But some questioned if Diaco's relationship as sister-in-law to Mehaffey constituted a conflict of interest, or whether Mehaffey should have abstained from the vote.
Tim Scaffidi, West Deptford's solicitor, says no – to both.
"There's no issue and there's no need to revote," Scaffidi said this week, citing the fact that West Deptford has no anti-nepotism policy. Under state law, he said, conflicts for local officials deal specifically with spouses and children who live in the same home as the official.
The fact that West Deptford lacks a policy on the matter prompted an editorial by the South Jersey Times, urging the town to pass such an ordinance that would apply to in-laws.
"Prove to constituents that you place open and honest government ahead of personal and party loyalties," the editorial read. "A local anti-nepotism ordinance would be a good start."
Committeeman Jeff Hansen, a Republican who raised questions with Scaffidi following the reorganization meeting about Diaco's hiring, said it would be "prudent" for committee to look at a possible ordinance. He does not have definite plans to introduce one.
Mehaffey – who said Diaco was "certainly competent and possesses the necessary skills" for the position – said the committee knew it would not be violating any rules by the appointment. He added that the school district, for which he was a 13-year school board member, had an anti-nepotism policy and that he was "certainly willing" to discuss a possible ordinance with the governing body.
Anti-nepotism ordinances do exist in some towns - including some peer Gloucester County municipalities - but the degrees of restriction vary. Some specifically apply to in-laws; others don't.
In Woodbury, an anti-nepotism ordinance prohibits "immediate relatives" from being hired to a position in which another relative would have authority over another. Immediate relatives include a "spouse or significant other, child, parent, stepchild, sibling, grandparents, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt, or any person related by blood or marriage residing in an employee's household."
Nearby, in Washington Township, officials approved an anti-nepotism ordinance in 2013 that offers another definition for "relative": "any person who is related by blood or marriage, or whose relationship with the employee is similar to that of persons who are related by blood or marriage." The measure specifically prohibits relatives from being hired into positions in which they would be supervising a family member, working above a relative's immediate supervisor, or directly for the relative's "immediate subordinate."
Ed Purcell, a staff attorney with the New Jersey League of Municipalities, said the league offers sample ordinances to municipalities interested in passing anti-nepotism ordinances but does not track how many municipalities implement them. Officials can also create local ethics boards to hold their towns to more stringent ethical standards.
"That's their decision to do so," he said.
Diaco replaces Michelle Hack as West Deptford's deputy clerk. Hack remains in another administrative position.