Cottonwood Heights tightens nepotism policy

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Family members of high-ranking officials are no longer eligible for employment with this east-side bedroom community, after a unanimous vote Tuesday tightening city policy.

The five-member Cottonwood Heights City Council discussed the issue of nepotism during a work session April 6. The change, proposed by city manager Liane Stillman, is what she calls a "good prevention measure."

So far, no family members of the city manager, City Council or human resources division have applied for work, but officials wanted to redraft the policy in case of future applications, according to Stillman. It can be very tempting to hire a family member you know is struggling, she explained.

Cottonwood Heights does not plan to grow its work force in the near future, but it's looking to bring on a part-timer in human resources and will soon let some city contracts end, bringing the work in-house.

— Rebecca Palmer