MONROE — Three members of the four-person Salary and Personnel Committee made the decision to hire the previously agreed on final candidate as Supervisor of Parks and Urban Forestry during their meeting at City Hall on Monday, despite disagreement regarding the city’s nepotism policy. 

Committee Chair Brooke Bauman, Richard Thoman and Jeff Newcomer voted in favor of hiring the final candidate, Josh Trame, son-in-law of the late Paul Klinzing, who served in the position for decades for the city. Alderman Michael Boyce was the sole no vote.

“It was, I guess, kind of bittersweet,” Newcomer said, referencing the months of disagreements between aldermen and a difference of opinion on the potential conflict of interest. Trame is also the son-in-law of current Recreation Supervisor Marge Klinzing.

Boyce had previously criticized the lack of transparency in revealing the need for the nepotism policy because of Trame’s relation to the Klinzing family. 

Newcomer criticized Boyce’s method of attempting to, from his perspective, obstruct the hiring because Boyce supported a previous budget draft. 

“They’re a great family and they keep getting attacked,” Newcomer said Tuesday. “Josh was, by far, the best candidate from day one.”

Newcomer also said Boyce’s assertion that Paul Klinzing had groomed his son-in-law for the position was false, noting that the Trames had not planned to move to Monroe until Paul’s sudden death in March.

On Wednesday, Bauman said the hiring process had been done consistently with other methods of the past and that it was evident in final, person-to-person interviews that Trame was the best choice for the position. 

Boyce was present for five of the six meetings held by the committee from early June until Aug. 28, according to meeting minutes. He was absent for the final meeting, held at 1 p.m., due to a work conflict, he said, adding that he had attended others either in person or via phone. The committee made its recommendation to hire Trame after finalist interviews were conducted during that meeting. 

“He knew from day one Josh was the best candidate,” Newcomer said of his fellow alderman.

Boyce said Tuesday all three final applicants were suited for the job. However, he had hoped to eliminate the position.

The hiring process had occurred in conjunction with potential department changes, with plans for city employees to take on the duties of the supervisor, but the personnel committee recommended funding the position to the city Finance and Taxation Committee. The finance committee instructed City Administrator Phil Rath to draft a budget. Funding for the position was not initially included.

In response, members of the public filled council chambers at City Hall during budget meetings, successful in calling for the position to be kept. Boyce contends the public speakers were not simply concerned for the future of the parks; they were also hoping to get Trame hired. Boyce said Marge Klinzing had attempted to persuade public officials on the parks board and those on council to hire her son-in-law.

Bauman said no one attempted to persuade her to hire Trame. Even if they had, they wouldn’t have had power over the final decision, she noted. Boyce himself admitted Marge Klinzing had not approached him with that request either. She had only, Boyce said, spoken to him before the hiring process began in June, during which she advocated for the city to keep the position her husband held for decades.

Bauman said Boyce’s continued pushback at the choice makes it seem like he does not trust his fellow committee members in their decision. Newcomer said the detailed process in hiring a qualified applicant justifies hiring Trame, adding he was the best of all the applicants on the skills assessments required by the city. 

During the committee meeting Monday, Rath said it is necessary to have a nepotism policy because employees who are related or in a domestic relationship should not supervise one another. Namely, because of the potential for negative actions, and the possibility of legal action against the city as a result. 

“Not to say you can’t hire relatives of people, especially if they’re the best candidate,” Rath said. 

His point echoed one previously made by Bauman, in which she said the policy was important to avoid conflicts of interest in a city where relatives working together is likely inevitable. The department setup remains the same as it was between Paul and Marge; Trame without supervisory powers over Marge’s position, Marge with no power over his. 

Boyce has asserted the potential need for the nepotism policy should have been revealed at the beginning of the hiring process for the sake of transparency to the public. It was discussed after the budget passed and Trame was again considered as the final candidate.

Rath said the “simple act of applying” does not require the authorization of the policy by the committee. Unless the applicant purposefully attempts to falsify information on the application form by not checking the “yes” box asking whether the applicant has family members employed by the city, he added.

The personnel committee unanimously recommended an annual salary of $55,926 for the position during its meeting Monday. Monroe Common Council approved the plan 9-0 later at its meeting.