32. OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS
CHAPTER 32: OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS
Section
32.01 Personnel Policy
32.02 Travel policy
§ 32.01 PERSONNEL POLICY.
(A) City Council may create city policies in order to provide guidelines necessary to keep the city functioning smoothly.
(Prior Code, § 212)
(B) All employees, whether full-time, part-time, or volunteer, shall be subject to the regulations and guidelines established by the Personnel Policy. A copy of the Personnel Policy shall be available for employees to review. The Personnel Policy shall outline the city’s process for recruitment, termination, and other human resource issues necessary for the operation of the city. The contents of the Personnel Policy do not constitute a contract and are not binding.
(Prior Code, § 212.1)
§ 32.02 TRAVEL POLICY.
(A) General. The city recognizes that its elected officials may at times receive value from traveling for workshops, conferences, events, and other assignments. This section sets forth the conditions under which travel will be reimbursed by the city.
(Prior Code, § 214)
(B) Advanced approval by the City Council.
(1) The event, workshop, conference, or assignment must be approved in advance by the City Council at an open meeting and must include an estimate of the cost of the travel.
(2) In evaluating the travel request, the Council will consider the following:
(a) Whether the elected official will be receiving training on issues relevant to the city or to her or his role as the Mayor or as a Council member;
(b) Whether the elected official will be meeting and networking with other elected officials from around the country to exchange ideas on topics of relevance to the city or on the official roles of local elected officials;
(c) Whether the elected official will be viewing a city facility or function that is similar in nature to one that is currently operating at or, under consideration by the city, where the purpose for the trip is to study the facility or function to bring back ideas for the consideration of the full Council;
(d) Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to visit another city for the purpose of establishing a goodwill relationship such as a sister city relationship;
(e) Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to testify on behalf of the city at the United States Congress or to otherwise meet with federal officials on behalf of the city; and
(f) Whether the city has sufficient funding available in the budget to pay the cost of the trip.
(3) No reimbursements will be made for attendance at events sponsored by or affiliated with political parties.
(Prior Code, § 214.1)
(C) Payment. The city may make payments in advance for airfare, lodging, and registration if specifically approved by the Council. Otherwise, all payments will be made as reimbursements to the elected official. The city will reimburse for transportation, lodging, meals, registration, and incidental costs using the same procedures, limitations, and guidelines outlined below.
(1) Airfare will be reimbursed at the coach rate.
(2) Mileage will be reimbursed at the IRS rate. If two or more Council members travel together by car, only the driver will receive reimbursement. The city will reimburse for the cost of renting an automobile if necessary to conduct city business.
(3) Lodging and meal costs are limited to those which are reasonable and necessary.
(4) Receipts are required for lodging, airfare, and meals and should accompany an expense report form. It is not necessary to have receipts for cabs and tips. The expense report form shall be submitted to the City Clerk/Treasurer for payment.
(5) The city will not reimburse for alcoholic beverages, personal telephone calls, costs associated with the attendance of a family member, rental of luxury vehicles, meal expenses included in the cost of registration, or recreational expenses such as golf or tennis.
(Prior Code, § 214.2)