West Penn Township supervisors have approved a policy that prohibits hiring their relatives to any township position.

Supervisors on Monday adopted an ordinance concerning personnel policy regarding anti-nepotism in hiring.

The personnel policy bans supervisors’ immediate family members from working in the township.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti stated last month that “immediate family” includes husbands, wives, sons, daughters, siblings, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.

Prudenti said at that time the policy applies only to those applying to township employment or consideration for township employment after the date of the passage of this ordinance.

However, it will not stop the employment of those already working in township positions.

Answering a question from an attendee, Prudenti clarified that it pertains to elected supervisors, and not supervisors of township departments.

He said it essentially comes down to keeping a system of checks and balances.