The adoption of this article shall neither reduce the salary or wage of any officer or employee of the City, nor shall anything relating to City officials or employees be construed in such manner as to be in conflict with the civil service rules or collective bargaining agreements. Any officer or employee who would have otherwise been entitled to higher pay by subsequent step increments under a prior pay ordinance than he is entitled to under this article shall receive the greater pay.
[Adopted as Art. XXVII of the Code of Ordinances]
[Amended 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
That period of time for which a permanent full-time employee, other than an employee of the School Department, is entitled to receive compensation while unable to perform duties due to sickness or injury not related to and occurring outside of the employee's work for the City.
A.
Compensation for sickness or other disability shall be limited to two days for each month of service in the preceding 12 months, but not more than 20 days in any twelve-month period. Holidays and any other days not included in the normal workweek shall not be included in the computation of days allowed hereunder.
B.
Sick leave credit will begin the first day of the month in which the employee is employed, but thereafter benefits hereunder shall be based upon continuous service since the date of original employment. If such service has not been continuous, such benefits shall be based upon continuous service since the last hiring date after the expiration of such 12 months of service or employment.
C.
Any sick leave allowed under this section may be accumulated, but such accumulation shall not exceed 200 days at any time.
D.
Upon retirement, employees will be paid 50% of the accrued sick days accrued as severance pay. If termination is by demise, 50% of the accrued sick leave shall be paid to the spouse, next of kin, to the employee's estate, or to the employee's legally designated beneficiary.
E.
Each employee's sick leave credits shall be posted annually by January 15 of each calendar year.
F.
For purposes of this section, a day's pay shall be computed as 1/5 of an employee's base pay per week, in grade.
G.
If a conflict exists between any current collective bargaining agreement and this section, the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement will apply.
H.
Notwithstanding Subsection D, any department head of the City who is initially appointed or hired or after January 1, 1989, shall not be eligible to receive or be paid accrued sick days as provided under Subsection D, nor will their spouse, next of kin, estate, or legally designated beneficiary be eligible for such severance pay.[1]
[Amended 12-19-1988 by Ord. No. 659]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection I, Conditions under which sick leave days shall not be granted, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046.
[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013; 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]
A.
Every employee, to be entitled to leave without loss of pay, shall notify his department head of his absence and the cause thereof before the expiration of the first hour of absence, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
B.
When physician's certificate or written statement may be required; availability for examination. For periods of absence for five consecutive working days or more, the appointing authority or someone designated by the appointing authority may require evidence for the necessity of such absence in the form of a physician's certificate or, if the cause of the absence is such as not to require the services of a physician, a written statement, signed by the employee, setting forth the reason for the absence. Where such certificate or statement is requested, the employee shall not be entitled to pay for his absence until such certificate or statement is filed. All City employees on sick leave shall be available at all times for examination by a physician designated by the City and at the request of the department head or the Mayor. Any employee not complying with the aforesaid shall be deemed ineligible for any further benefits.
C.
Fraudulently taking sick leave. Any person who feigns sickness, injury or disability or who makes a false statement relative thereto shall be subject to discipline up to and including termination and, in any event, shall not be entitled to the benefits of this article for a period of one year after such finding.
[Amended 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 186]
All employees with a confidential employee status, who due to that status are excluded from all labor unions pursuant to MGL c. 150E, § 3, shall receive the same cost-of-living raises negotiated by the union of which they would be entitled to be a member if not for their confidential employee status. Nothing in this section shall preclude said confidential employees from receiving merit raises as may be recommended by their supervisor and the Mayor and appropriated by the City Council from time to time. Said confidential employees shall be entitled to the same employee benefits enjoyed by all other employees under their union contracts, including but not limited to vacation pay, sick leave benefits, personal and funeral leave, longevity, health and welfare benefits, on-the-job injury and educational benefits.
[Added 12-5-2016 by Ord. No. 197A; amended 6-27-2022 by Ord. No. 129; 12-16-2024 by Order No. 280A]
The compensation of the officer(s) mentioned in this section shall be at the following rates per annum, except as otherwise provided, payable in equal weekly payments:
B.
School Committee:
(1)
School Committee members: $8,000.
(2)
School Committee members, effective January 5, 2026: $8,500.
(3)
School Committee members, effective January 1, 2027: $9,000.
(4)
School Committee President: $9,000.
(5)
School Committee President, effective January 5, 2026: $9,500.
(6)
School Committee President, effective January 1, 2027: $10,000.
C.
On or before October 31 of the first year of a two-year term, the City Council shall meet for the purpose of reviewing the salaries of the Mayor and members of the School Committee.