No Dating Policy Amendment Rejected By Putnam Commission

The Putnam County Commission voted Monday to not relax an anti fraternization policy for the EMS Department.

Had the commission voted to relax the policy it would have allowed dating or married couples to be EMS employees with director Tommy Copeland’s approval.

Commissioner Scott Ebersole said the policy was wrong on so many levels.

“I feel like this policy is being put forth for specific people,” Ebersole said. “I think when you make a policy for specific people that it leads itself to be a bad policy in the long run.”

Copeland said he felt like a relaxed policy would allow him to hire more employees to address a shortage of EMS workers.

“It’s not good that if you do it for one you will have to do it for every department,” Commissioner Marcia Bowman said. “Our county is not the only one short of ambulance drivers. We are short of bus drivers and so is other counties.”

The commission rejected a motion to change the policy with an 11-11 vote.