Aldermen Update Policy for Employees Seeking Election

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

With several local elections coming up in 2019, the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved a policy change Tuesday updating its current political activity policy in regards to employees seeking election.

“We made some small changes,” said City Attorney Pope Mallette at the regular board meeting Tuesday evening at City Hall.

The current policy states a city employee seeking to run for a part-time governmental elective office can do so with permission from their department head and without requesting a leave of absence, if the position does not, in any way, conflict with their employment. The revised policy added that if the employee is a supervisory-level employee, they must gain permission from the mayor.

Employees wishing to run for a full-time position must get permission from the Board of Aldermen for a leave of absence without pay at the time he or she announces his or her candidacy for such office.

If the full-time position it one outside of Lafayette County, the Board of Aldermen may now vote to allow the employee to continue working in his or her position.

According to the update policy, the elected position is one in Lafayette County, the board can now “allow the employee some additional time to serve in his or her position so that the city may find a suitable replacement for the employee, or otherwise take appropriate action to ensure that the employee’s duties and/or responsibilities are adequately covered during the period of the employee’s leave of absence.”

Not changed was the employee’s requirement to resign from their city position before taking over elected duties, should they win the election and the clause that prohibits candidates for office campaigning or engaging in any activity related to campaigning during working hours.

Those employed by the city seeking an elected position cannot use their position to influence elections or nominations, require fellow employees to make political contributions, use political influence in connection with their employment or engage in any type of activity that interferes with work responsibilities or becomes a detriment to constructive working relationships.

Yard Sign Change Considered

The aldermen are also considering a change to the city sign ordinance allowing three additional yard signs six weeks before an election. Currently, the sign ordinance only allows two yard signs at any given time. A public hearing on the proposed change will be held Dec. 4 during the aldermen’s regular meeting at 5 p.m.