Hamilton County officials don't see issues with hiring qualified family members

Jan. 22—Hamilton County officials take little issue with hiring family members amid a push to ban some from being paid by county funds.

Commissioner Tim Boyd, R-East Brainerd, has proposed banning county funds to be used for county officers called for in the constitution — such judge and sheriff — to hire their relatives.

The ban has certain exemptions, such as offices that are funded by fees charged to patrons rather than county tax revenue, or hirings made through the civil service process. Commissioners this past week voted 7-1 to table the legislation until June 2.

Of the four offices that are exempt from the proposal, three officials told the Times Free Press that hiring family members isn't much of a problem.

"I don't have major heartburn with it as long as they're doing a good job and everything," Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander said in a Friday phone interview, adding he does not employ any family members.

While Hullander personally has a policy of not hiring family members, he said in other offices it's "entirely" up to them, and the main concern is to ensure their pay is equal to non-family members.

Sheriff Jim Hammond said last week his son, Jimi Hammond, who works as manager of the sheriff's office's information technology team, could also be affected by the proposed measure.

However, Boyd clarified Wednesday that the sheriff's office hires through civil service and has its own nepotism standards, therefore excluding it from the law.

"I don't think that's an issue as long as that family member does not report back to you," Hammond said in a Friday phone interview.

Under Boyd's legislation, the county trustee, clerk and register of deeds would be exempt from the law because they collect fees and give any excess fees to the county's general fund, Boyd said Wednesday. They do not ask for funding from the county to pay their respective payrolls.

Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles said Friday in a phone interview that his grandson, Brett Knowles, works for the office part-time in the mailroom but it isn't an issue.

"We follow the law," Knowles said. "I don't supervise any family members. We treat them like other people."

Hamilton County Register of Deeds Marc Gravitt said Friday in a phone interview he does not employ any family members and declined to comment further.

County commissioners delayed the matter, citing concerns the vote would be taking place during the run-up to the May 3 primary election. Boyd was the lone dissenting vote on the delay, and Commissioner Randy Fairbanks, R-Soddy-Daisy, was absent.

The resolution would not prevent family members from being employed by one of the constitutional officers — a group that includes positions such as the county clerk, judges and public defender. Instead, the measure prohibits county funding of such a position. Outside funding could be used for such employment.

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Even though some officials don't take issue with the hiring of family members, some government outsiders warn against the practice.

Dick Williams, chairman of the government watchdog organization Common Cause Tennessee, said Friday in a phone interview family members in government can be highly problematic.

"As a general practice, it should be discouraged because you're talking about public money," Williams said.

Although it is possible a family member could work in an office without any issue, he added, there should be an individual other than the office head to make the hiring decision, even if a strong nepotism law is in place.

Only two current county employees would be affected by Boyd's proposal — both of whom work in the district attorney's office.

Boyd noted Wednesday that since proposing the legislation, he has been called "vindictive" toward District Attorney Neal Pinkston.

Pinkston has previously accused Boyd of pursuing the issue in retaliation for a 2018 extortion indictment brought by Pinkston against Boyd that later was dismissed. The extortion case claimed Boyd tried to threaten a political rival with the release of damaging information if the person did not withdraw.

Boyd denies acting out of animus and has said the proposal is not a nepotism law, adding he's just trying to ensure county funds are spent fairly.

The issue of relatives on the payroll first came up at a budget hearing in May.

The Times Free Press then reported the district attorney married a subordinate, Melydia Clewell, in 2019 and hired her brother, Kerry Clewell, in 2020.

To avoid potentially breaking state nepotism law, Pinkston, whose office receives both state and county funding, transferred Melydia Clewell to the county payroll in August 2021 and Kerry Clewell the following month. Both were given raises.

Pinkston did not respond to requests for comment. He has previously said his employment of relatives is "both legal and ethical."

Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com or 814-319-5158. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger.