Hiram City Council gathered for a special called meeting last week to amend an ordinance regarding nepotism within city government but voted to delay action.

The amendment concerned the definition of fraternization between employees, but City Attorney Glen Stinson said he did not have sufficient time to review the ordinance prior to the meeting.

Earlene Graham made a motion to table the motion.

After the meeting, City Administrator/Clerk Cynthia Geyer said it was Police Chief Gary Yandura’s recommendation that the city work to further refine the definition of fraternization.

As the ordinance reads now, “fraternization between employees is discouraged as having a high possibility of undesirable consequences or ramifications for both the employees involved and the city, including, but not limited to perceived sexual harassment.”

The anti-nepotism ordinance was adopted Jan. 4 in a special called meeting.

The ordinance provides that no city employee or elected official are allowed to serve the city simultaneously.

In the event a case of this occurs, the person of lower rank must step down from their position within 30 days.

The punishment for fraternization is the same.

In other action at the meeting, the council gave unanimous approval to two agenda items.

Council members voted to enter into a 2012 contract with Shaw Hankins for insurance for city employees.

“The insurance plan provides the same feature as we had last year with Shaw Hankins with an increase in the deductible,” Geyer said.

The deductible is increasing from $500 to $1,000.

The overall savings to the city from this change is $150,000, Geyer said.