An educational assistance program for employees of the Borough
of Pottstown be and is hereby adopted and approved. Said program is
to be administered by the Borough Manager as is set forth in this
Part.
Textbooks, notebooks, and other publications or material
which the institution or sponsoring organization deems necessary for
the student's active participation and successful completion of courses.
Books and materials shall include laboratory equipment or depository
fee covering breakage of same.
The charge or fees for the privilege of taking examinations
prerequisite to successfully completing or receiving credit for a
course.
The cost for a student registering for a course.
The charge determined by the sponsoring university, college,
professional or trade society necessary to pay for courses, instruction,
and administrative costs.
The Borough of Pottstown shall pay the full cost of tuition,
registration fees, books, travel, examinations, and basic living expenses
connected with training or advanced education considered, in the opinion
of the Borough Manager, to be necessary before an employee is advanced
to a new position or continues in the Borough's service to maintain
his present standing.
[Res. 3/14/1966A; as amended by Res. 3/14/1975; by Ord. 1439,
1/14/1980, § 4; by Ord. 1656, 1/14/1991, § 7;
by Ord. 1696, 3/9/1992, § 16; and by Ord. 1758, 12/30/1993,
§ 1]
The Borough of Pottstown shall reimburse the cost of tuition,
registration fees, books and examination costs up to a maximum of
$650 in any one calendar year for full-time employees who have successfully
completed, with a passing grade of "C" or 70%, or its equivalent,
courses of study related to the employee's current or future work
with the Borough of Pottstown and sponsored by recognized universities,
junior colleges, professional or trade societies.
1.Â
Candidates for educational assistance must retain a satisfactory
merit rating.
2.Â
Studies or courses must be directly related to the employee's municipal
work or to work to which he may transfer or progress in the future
unless the course is necessary in the attainment of a degree.
3.Â
Employees submitting applications for consideration by the Borough
Manager, requesting educational financial assistance, prior to enrolling
in a course of studies, shall have served for six months of continuous,
satisfactory service; provided that all such employees failing to
successfully complete the required probationary period will not be
reimbursed or will return their reimbursement before receiving a final
pay check.
4.Â
Students intentionally falsifying expenses shall forfeit all reimbursements
and future participation in the educational assistance program.
5.Â
All reimbursements shall be subject to the filing of the application
and approval by the Borough Manager to determine eligibility, before
the prospective student registers. The Borough Manager's decision
shall prevail in the determination for eligibility for expenses, upon
successful completion of the course, as reflected by the sponsoring
organization's records.
6.Â
Any assistance in the form of a scholarship, parental subsidy or
any other assistance shall be deducted from the reimbursement.
7.Â
All reimbursement shall be subject to Federal, State or local taxes,
if applicable.
