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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 2009-029 Amending PRR's Section Relating to Education Incentive Program ORDINANCE NO. 2009-029 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA AMENDING ORDINANCE 2005-017 AND SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS BY AMENDING "EXHIBIT A," PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS, MORE SPECIFICALLY SECTION 13.14 EDUCATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AND ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE REVISED CITY OF OCOEE PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Ocoee desires to provide for the most current personnel policies and regulations for the administration of personnel matters within the City of Ocoee; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Ocoee believes that it is important to provide for the proper and equitable treatment of City Employees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Short Title and Authoritv. A. This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as amendment to "CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULA nONS." B. The City Commission of the City of Ocoee has the authority to adopt this Ordinance pursuant to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida and Chapter 166, Florida Statutes. SECTION 2. Adoption of the amended Citv of Ocoee. Florida Personnel Rules and Ree:ulations. The City Commission of the City of Ocoee, Florida, hereby adopts and approves the amended CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULA nONS, ORLA_392344.1 originally approved on December 6, 2005, as set forth in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof. SECTION 3. Severabilitv. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion hereto. SECTION 4. Conflicts. All ordinances and resolution, or parts of ordinances and resolutions, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed and rescinded. SECTION 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon passage and adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this ~ay of [C~ ,200~. APPROVED: ATTEST: (SEAL) FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA; APPROVED AS TO FORM ~I) LEGALITY this~ day ofD(1l>~((", 2009. FOLEY 1.1~~~)fP -LJ JJ By: if~~),~ City Attorney ADVERTISED O{+o~) \~ 2009 READ FIRST TIME (t-o ~ ,2009 READ SECOND TIME AND ADOPTED ('J c:f- 0 ber- Zb, 20(1!f UNDER AGENDA ITEM NO. 1 ORLA_392344.1 -2- EXHIBIT "A" (City Of Ocoee, Florida Personnel Rules And Regulations) See Attached. ORLA_392344.1 -3- 13.14 Education Incentive Proe:ram The City may authorize reimbursements for tuition and books for courses subject to budgetary constraints as follows: A. The course or curriculum shall be related to the employee's job or will contribute to the long-range value of the employee to the City, not to provide training for jobs with other employers. This determination will be made by the Education Committee. B. There will be no duplicate payments for the same course, if the course is reimbursable through some other source, then provisions of the City's education tuition payment plan shall not apply. C. Requirements to obtain these benefits are: 1. Full time employment with the City at least one year before employee can apply. 2. The educational training can be at the high school, post high school, and adult educational levels. 3. No more than two courses per quarter or semester (or equivalent period of time) may be taken unless permission is obtained from the Education Committee. 4. The Education Committee shall be made up of the City Manager and the Director of Human Resources. A City Commissioner or designee and an employee, who shall be selected by City employees from the general work force, shall also serve on this Committee, both of whom shall be selected on an annual basis. 5. Employees must seek approval for the class through the Education Committee prior to enrollment. Failure to seek the necessary approval shall result in denial of tuition reimbursement. 6. The employee must request approval by completing the Standard Form Memorandum to the Education Committee, which may be obtained from the Human Resources Department with a school schedule attached. The memorandum must state the name of the class and its cost along with the anticipated cost for books. In order to process the request in a timely manner, employees should make every effort to request approval as soon as school schedules are released. 7. Employees must work with the Human Resources staff to purchase books and resell them in the most cost effective way (i.e. renting books). 8. Advanced payment for tuition may be considered III certain hardship situations. Employees receiving a grade of C or better or a "pass" in a pass/fail course shall receive reimbursement. 9. Employees are encouraged to attend any accredited Florida College or University; however, tuition reimbursement shall be paid at the public College or University tuition rate. Employees shall not be reimbursed for mileage or personal expenses. Other expenses such as fees for on-line courses and other related expenses shall not be paid. 10. The employee shall submit to the Human Resources Office the final grade, certification, or degree, within two (2) weeks after the class is completed. Reimbursement shall be within two (2) weeks of receipt of grades. For courses for which an employee receives a grade, reimbursement to the City will be as follows: A. Employees receiving a grade below a C or who fail a pass/fail course shall not receive any reimbursement. B. Employees who drop a class shall not receive any reimbursement. 11. Any employee who receives advanced payment and either fails to attend the class, finish the course, and/or receives a grade below a C, must repay the entire reimbursement within four (4) pay periods. 12. The employee who receives any benefit whatsoever under this program shall be required to work for the City for at least two (2) years from date money is received, or shall reimburse the City 100% upon termination. The City reserves the right to withhold the money owed from any final paycheck upon separation, subject only to applicable law. D. The City will attempt to rearrange work schedules for classes if it does not interrupt the normal work flow. E. Correspondence Degree Correspondence means those self improvement general knowledge types of courses from non-accredited programs. Generally these types of courses should be requested through the department training and travel policy. (1) Employees under this program shall not receive tuition advancement. (2) Employees must obtain approval from the Education Committee for the class prior to enrollment if the employee is seeking reimbursement upon completion of the class by the Education Committee. (3) The school must be certified as a legitimate degree institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Human Resources Department will have this information available for employees to review within the Human Resource Department. (4) All conditions must be followed under Section C(10).