Orangeville Council voted Monday night to revise its hiring policies and allow relatives of council members and town employees to apply for certain positions.

The new bylaw supports a resolution from the town's human resources department that states: "The Town of Orangeville will not provide preference, nor will it discriminate either in favour of, or against, any relative of employees or elected representatives who wish to apply for employment, promotion or transfers with the municipality."

Prior to Monday's vote, the "Employment of Relatives Policy" contained a provision that prohibited the hiring of relatives of a council member, while that member is in office, which came about in 2005.

Relatives or significant others are defined in the Town's existing policy to include a partner, parent, step-parent; child, stepchild; grandparent, stepgrandparent, grandchild or step-grandchild; brother, sister, step-brother or stepsister; or the spouse or same-sex partner of a child or step-child.

There are exceptions in the bylaw, however. It also states that the town's chief administrative officer (CAO) and department heads cannot be related to a member of council.

As well, no employee can deal with an application for employment, promotion or transfer submitted by any relative. In addition to that, a person who is hired, transferred or promoted cannot be assigned to a position reporting directly or indirectly to, or supervising, his relative.

Monday's vote was not unanimous, however. Councillor Gail Campbell, for example, has opposed the revisions since they were first suggested.

She alluded to the fact that council's responsibilities include deciding the staffing and salaries of the various departments. Ms. Campbell said that, if a councillor's family member is employed by a particular department under review, that councillor might be in a position where he/she will have to declare a conflict.

On the other hand, Councillor Gary Kocialek has argued that it's "important to have the best person for the job." He said a relative should be considered if he or she undergoes the standard hiring process and is considered the most qualified.

Ms. Campbell was also worried that a council member's relative would, regardless of job performance, always be labouring with the stigma that nepotism played a role in his/her getting the job in the first place.