KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein renewed his call for a ban on nepotism in county employment practices last week by issuing Executive Order 1 of 2010, Regarding Employment of Relatives, directed at all departments, boards, agencies and commissions under his jurisdiction.

The order states that all department heads must review their operations for any potential nepotism-related conflicts, including, "any employee supervising a relative or member of the employee's household, either directly or through a chain of authority."

Department heads must, within 60 days, report their review findings along with a proposed action plan to Brenda Bartholomew, the county's director of personnel.

Citing the need to "maintain accountability and avoid the potential for employment-related conflicts of interest," Hein maintained that the county charter grants the executive the power to "supervise the appointment and dismissal of employees."

In calling for an end to "even the appearance of impropriety," Hein also requested the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a local law extending similar restrictions to areas of county government not overseen by the executive.

Last year the legislature, under Democratic control, failed to pass an ethics law that would have required elected officials to disclose if they have any relatives working or applying to work for the county and to allow members of the public to file complaints about elected officials.