NORWAY — Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to appoint the son of Police Chief Robert Federico as a full-time police officer, but only after agreeing to a policy regarding the employment and supervision of relatives in the same department.

Robert Federdico Jr., the son of the chief who has been a part-time officer for the past several years, and Stephen T. Witham, were appointed unanimously at Thursday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting. Witham is replacing a retired officer’s position and Federico is working under the second year of a three-year federal grant program.

The appointment of Federico was delayed initially while the board worked on a policy that addressed the hiring and supervision of relatives in all town departments. While the Police Department already had some guidelines in place, the town did not have a town-wide policy to address the situation.

Town Manager David Holt said under the policy relatives can not be hired on the same department unless the Board of Selectmen says its OK under certain conditions if procedures are set up for hiring, supervision, discipline and evaluations are in place. Because so many departments have relatives working in them, such as the volunteer Fire Department, it is impossible to prohibit relatives from being hired.

While the board agreed to the policy, they opposed a section that barred marriage or relationships of long-term employees in the same department, board members agreed that because the town was so small and relied on volunteers in some instances, such as the Fire Department, the section may not be viable. Instead the board voted to delete it from the overall policy for the time being.

“It can be an issue. It can be complicated,” said Holt referring particularly to the Fire Department where multiple family members are often employed.

“All you want is to have things go well at work,” he said.

Copy the Story Link