§ 3.30.126. Incentive awards.

A.

Purpose. Agency heads may recommend employees for a lump-sum special award at any time in recognition of:

(1)

Outstanding service;

(2)

Special acts or accomplishments; or

(3)

Achievements in additional education or specialized training which enable the individual to perform his assignment more effectively and upon which the municipality benefits.

The granting of an award under this section shall have no effect on the normal anniversary date.

B.

Request for award. Request for awards shall be made in writing by the agency head through the director to an eight-member employee incentive committee appointed by the mayor for review and recommendation to the mayor detailing the reasons for the request on a form prescribed by the committee. Employees shall not be eligible for such awards while serving a probationary period.

C.

Standards for special merit awards.

1.

Outstanding service. In the case of outstanding service, the request will state how the candidate's work performance exceeds the normal requirements of his position or how his service is superior in comparison with that of others in the same range and type of work and will establish that the outstanding service has been consistently performed for at least three months prior to the date of recommendation. The recommendation must show that the individual's service is outstanding in two or more of the basic tasks outlined in his position description or in assigned tasks.

2.

Supervisors. A candidate for a merit award for outstanding service who is a supervisor must also in carrying out his job responsibilities demonstrate exceptional achievements in planning and scheduling the most effective and economical use of space, equipment and manpower; must evidence traits of outstanding leadership; must demonstrate excellent ability in developing or selecting effective methods of solving problems; and must represent his organization with such effectiveness, diligence and integrity as to produce a favorable public or interagency image substantially beyond reasonable expectations.

3.

Special acts or accomplishments. In the case of special acts or accomplishments, the request will describe the meritorious personal efforts, including acts of heroism, directly or indirectly relating to the candidate's employment, which contribute to efficiency, economy or other improvement in municipal operations, or which are otherwise in the public interest or reflect favorably upon the municipal government.

4.

Education or specialized training. In the case of achievement in additional education or specialized training, the recommendation will describe the achievement and identify the training organization, will give the dates and length of course and subjects covered, and will be accompanied by a copy of the certificate, diploma or license received and specific examples of the improvement in performance of work assignment. To qualify for merit award consideration the education and training being recognized must have been completed after the candidate joined the municipality. The achievement (degree, license, certificate, etc.) must not have been a mandatory prerequisite for the candidate's employment in his present position. The achievement or training must be demonstratively of value to the municipality beyond the qualifications for the employee's current position.

D.

Amount of award. A merit award shall not exceed five percent of the employee's annual salary, with the precise amount to be awarded in any particular case to be determined by the employee incentive committee and approved by the mayor.

(AO No. 79-195; AO No. 86-207(S-1))