Teddy Roosevelt promoted the non-partisan, professionally oriented Merit and Fitness Civil Service System in Albany (and for that matter, DC). (nystateofpolitics.com)
Nepotism waivers permit the hiring or promotion of relatives of county officials for positions that are not part of the competitive Civil Service system. (newsday.com)
But the agency has consistently been used by Syracuse mayors, including Miner, as an «expedient» way to hire city employees - or in this case a private contractor — without going through the state civil service system or amending the city budget. (syracuse.com)