[R.O. 2011 §23.500; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.500), 10-20-1997]
All City employees are expected to demonstrate financial responsibility.
The City is obligated by law to process a garnishment on an employee's
paycheck when required by legal authorities. A "garnishment" is a court proceeding where wages are ordered withheld for the payment of a debt. The City will progressively discipline employees who repeatedly fail (in excess of three (3) such garnishments, consisting of two (2) or more indebtedness) to meet their credit obligations causing their wages to be garnished (see Article VIII, Discipline). The foregoing is not intended to penalize employees who, for cause beyond their control, may have accumulated bills due to sickness, death, or other legitimate emergencies.
[R.O. 2011 §23.510; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.510), 10-20-1997]
The City encourages two (2) rest periods or coffee breaks of
fifteen (15) minutes each at approximately the midpoint of each half
of the eight-hour work schedule. These breaks should normally be taken
in the vicinity of the work being performed, and at a time that will
not cause a major disruption of the work activities. The appropriate
supervisor may authorize the taking of these breaks.
[R.O. 2011 §23.511; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.511), 10-20-1997; Ord. No. 2106 §1, 8-5-2002]
Employees of the City of Savannah will not be appointed or retained
on the basis of their political activity. Employees will not participate
in any way in municipal elected office campaigns, except to exercise
their legal voting privilege. An employee may participate in political
affairs at other levels of government, provided such participation
does not adversely affect his/her performance as a City employee.
Any employee who voluntarily becomes a candidate or campaigns in behalf
of or against a candidate for an elective municipal office thereby
resigns from the City employment.
[R.O. 2011 §23.512; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.512), 10-20-1997]
A.
The City will pay normal travel expenses that are incurred from authorized
trips pertaining to City business or training sessions. Advance approval
of the City Administrator is required for such trips. Proper documentation
of travel expenses should be maintained, and these should be identified
on the purchase order. This report should be prepared whenever travel
expenses are incurred on City business.
1.
Travel by privately owned vehicles. The City
Administrator shall designate the officers and employees of the City
who are to be compensated for the use of their private vehicles in
the business of the City. For travel in privately owned automobiles,
mileage allowance shall be at a rate equal to the IRS standard expense
allowance for mileage reimbursement. Mileage figures listed on the
Expense Reimbursement Request/Verification Form should be rounded
to no greater than the nearest whole mile. Other expenses such as
toll charges for bridge and turnpike use and parking charges will
be allowed. When more than one (1) person travels in the same automobile,
only the owner of the vehicle shall be allowed mileage. Mileage reports
must include information for when, where and what type of City business
was discussed. Monthly car allowances require approval by the Board
of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 2663 §3, 2-17-2015]
2.
Travel compensation.
a.
City Clerk. Because the Clerk is responsible
for daily banking and mail operation and the City does not provide
transportation, the City will provide the Clerk two hundred fifty
dollars ($250.00) annually for the use of his/her personal vehicle
to adequately perform these tasks and other incidental occurrences
that arise requiring travel within the City. Payable following approval
of the annual budget.
b.
City Collector. Because the Collector is responsible
for daily banking functions and the City does not provide transportation,
the City will provide the Collector two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)
annually for the use of his/her personal vehicle to adequately perform
these tasks and other incidental occurrences that arise requiring
travel within the City. Payable following approval of annual budget.
3.
Acceptable lodging costs. Lodging costs associated
with conferences and out-of-town meetings will be paid at the rate
scheduled for that activity. In the event the employee is purchasing
accommodations not necessarily associated with any event, reasonable
efforts will be made to acquire lodging at competitive rates.
4.
Acceptable food costs. While employees are
expected to find reasonable restaurant prices, the City has set a
maximum reimbursement for each meal:
Breakfast, five dollars ($5.00).
Lunch, ten dollars ($10.00).
Dinner, fifteen dollars ($15.00).
or a maximum of thirty dollars ($30.00) per day.
5.
MML conference. The City will reimburse the
cost of transportation, lodging, food, conference registration and
activities for City representatives to the annual Municipal League
Conference.
6.
Direct bill or repayment. When requested of
the City Administrator and approved, the City will either prepay accommodations
or arrange for direct billing.
[R.O. 2011 §23.513; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.513), 10-20-1997; Ord. No. 2820, 4-4-2022]
A.
City-owned
vehicles are to be used only to conduct City business. No personal
use of City-owned vehicles shall be allowed except that minimal personal
use is permitted for employees authorized to take City-owned vehicles
home by the Board of Aldermen and/or City Administrator. These arrangements
are subject to the applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue
Service. The following positions are authorized to take home City
Vehicles: City Administrator, Chief of Police and Director of Public
Works.
B.
An
employee who operates City-owned vehicles must have a valid driver's
license for the class of vehicle they are assigned to operate. Employees
are responsible for knowing all City policies and all State and local
motor vehicle laws.
C.
Every
employee is required to wear a seat belt at all times while in a moving
City vehicle. Employees are required to see that any passenger is
also wearing a seat belt.
D.
All
City-owned vehicles shall be smoke free. No smoking shall be permitted
in any City-owned vehicle.
E.
All
employees who operate City-owned vehicles should remove all trash,
debris, etc., upon leaving vehicle.
F.
Employees
are responsible for paying fines for traffic violations when such
fines arise from the operation of a vehicle on City business. The
City will not reimburse employees for such fines unless there are
extenuating circumstances, such as unknowingly driving a City-owned
vehicle with defective equipment.
G.
Employees
must notify their supervisor as soon as practical, but in any event
within twenty-four (24) hours, about any motor vehicle accident, vehicle
damage or moving violation involving a City vehicle. The supervisor
must notify the City Administrator as soon as practical on any type
of accident involving a City vehicle.
H.
An
employee must notify his or her supervisor as soon as practicable
of any change in his or her driver's license status (including, but
not limited to, suspension or revocation), any tickets he or she has
received (including but not limited to DUI, speeding, no insurance,
or driving while suspended), or any other incident which may impact
employees' ability to drive for work related purposes.
I.
Only
City employees may be passengers in City-owned vehicles; however non-City
employees may be provided transportation if the vehicle is operated
by a City employee and the transportation of the non-City employee
directly relates to City business and falls within the employee's
position responsibilities or is authorized by the City Administrator.
J.
Employees
may not operate a cellular phone while operating a City-owned vehicle.
[Ord. No. 2820, 4-4-2022]
A.
The
City has a vital interest in maintaining a safe, healthy and efficient
working environment for its employees. This includes a safe and appropriate
environment while traveling on company business. Distracted driving
is a serious safety risk, not only to the driver, but also to other
occupants in the vehicle, other vehicles on the road and pedestrians.
In order to reduce the risks associated with distracted driving, certain
conduct is prohibited while driving a City-owned motor vehicle or
while driving a personal vehicle while on City business, including:
B.
Drivers
must pull over safely to the side of the road or another safe location
before checking messages, returning calls, text messaging, e-mailing,
reading maps for directions, or programming/resetting GPS devices.
A violation of this policy will subject the employee to disciplinary
action up to and including termination.
[R.O. 2011 §23.514; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.514), 10-20-1997]
A.
The following procedures should be followed by employees when an
accident occurs involving City equipment:
1.
Check for injuries of the parties involved, seek medical attention
as required.
2.
Immediately notify the Police Department that an accident involving
City equipment has occurred, and identify the location. The employee
should indicate whether injuries exist, and if he/she believes an
ambulance is needed.
3.
Obtain the information you need to complete a report from the
operator of the other vehicle involved, and obtain the names of all
witnesses.
4.
Complete your vehicle report as soon as possible and forward
to the appropriate supervisor.
5.
Do not accept fault for the accident, and do not give a statement
to anyone except the City Attorney.
[R.O. 2011 §23.515; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.515), 10-20-1997]
Employees should promptly notify their department head of any
change of address or telephone number so that they may be contacted
either by telephone or mail. (All employees shall be required to maintain
adequate transportation and a current telephone number at all times.)
Failure to provide such notification may result in disciplinary action.
[R.O. 2011 §23.516; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.516), 10-20-1997]
All employees operating a City vehicle shall maintain a current valid driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle being operated in behalf of the City (any employee required to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) in the performance of their duty shall be reimbursed the cost of the CDL by the City). This license number shall be reported to the Personnel Department and any lapses of licensing shall be reported to your supervisor immediately. Failure to provide such notification and to maintain a valid license may result in disciplinary action (see Article VIII). The City of Savannah will pay the additional cost of renewal for CDL for those employees required to maintain a CDL. The reimbursement will be the difference between a CDL license and a normal license renewal.
[R.O. 2011 §23.517; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.517), 10-20-1997]
A.
City employees may take occasional or part-time jobs if the following
conditions are met:
1.
There is no conflict of interest.
2.
There is no part-time work in conflict with City working hours
or work performance.
3.
Specific approval has been given by the appropriate department
head.
4.
Police personnel employed in private security positions are
restricted to conditions and policies established by the Chief of
Police and the City's insurance policies.
B.
Employees may not engage in outside business activities during working
hours.
[R.O. 2011 §23.518; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.518), 10-20-1997; Ord. No. 2106 §1, 8-5-2002]
A.
An employee performing job training that is required or requested
by the City will receive the regular rate of compensation during such
training.
B.
Any employee who receives training paid for by the City of Savannah will be required to reimburse the City for part or all of the cost of such training if such employee voluntarily leaves City employment within one (1) year of receiving training. Such reimbursement shall be in the same manner as the reimbursement provisions outlined in Section 155.600, Education Leave.
[R.O. 2011 §23.519; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.519), 10-20-1997]
A.
An employee is encouraged to give two (2) weeks' notice of his/her
intent to resign in good standing. Supervisory and technical personnel
are encouraged to give thirty (30) days' notice. The requested notice
is not required and an employee may terminate employment at any such
time, for good reason, for a bad reason, or for no reason at all.
B.
An employee who fails to give the requested notice before resigning
may have such failure noted in his/her personnel file.
C.
Failure to give the requested notice before resignation will be sufficient
justification for refusing to consider an ex-employee for future employment.
[R.O. 2011 §23.520; Ord. No. 1909 §1(23.520), 10-20-1997]
No employee shall accept cash or property over twenty-five dollars
($25.00) per calendar year based on work performance or incidental
to their position with the City without prior approval of the Mayor.
[R.O. 2011 §23.521; Ord. No. 2106 §1, 8-5-2002]
Computers, computer files, e-mail system, access to the Internet,
and software furnished to employees are City property and intended
for City use. To ensure compliance with this, computer and e-mail
usage may be monitored.
