[Adopted 7-7-1999 by L.L. No. 2-1999]
The Common Council of the City of Ithaca finds
that the productivity, creativity and efficiency of City employees
will be advanced by the creation of a mechanism for merit awards for
City employees. It is further found that private employers often award
exceptional service with a commendation or other appropriate incentive,
and the City desires to provide such individual incentive and recognition
for exceptional service as provided and allowed by law.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by L.L. No. 2022-07]
There is hereby created a Merit Award Board
within the City of Ithaca. The Board shall consist of the City Manager,
Corporation Counsel and a committee of Alderpersons and City employees
as follows:
A.
Annual Merit Award Board: The City Manager, Corporation
Counsel, and five Alderpersons to be designated by Common Council.
B.
Quarterly Merit Award Board.
(1)
In the spirit of employees recognizing their peers,
the Quarterly Merit Award Board shall consist of one employee from
each of the following facilities: Police Department, Fire Department,
Department of Public Works, Youth Bureau, Greater Ithaca Activities
Center and City Hall, and the Director of Human Resources.
(2)
The Director of Human Resources shall appoint the
Quarterly Merit Award Board basing such appointment on the expressed
interest of the employee for membership on the Board, recommendations
from the employee's peers and such other criteria as the Director
of Human Resources shall deem appropriate.
(3)
The term of office for a Quarterly Merit Award Board
member shall be for one year commencing July 1 of the year of appointment.
If for any reason a Quarterly Merit Award Board member is unwilling
or unable to complete his or her full term, the Director of Human
Resources shall appoint a replacement employee, from the same facility
as the Quarterly Merit Award Board member relinquishing membership,
to complete the term of appointment of said member.
A.
Annual recognition.
(1)
Purpose: to publicly recognize individuals who have
excelled in sensitivity, respecting differences and appreciation of
others within the workforce and demonstrated positive behaviors and
performance levels.
(2)
Criteria: the accomplishment or project nominated
must have been completed within the twelve-month period just prior
to nomination. Nominators should consider whether the accomplishment
or project has increased productivity, increased performance, improved
productivity or positively influenced the work or community environment.
(3)
Eligibility: any City employee, cross-functional team
or committee. No elected official shall be eligible for nomination
or selection.
(4)
Nominators: any employee, Alderperson, the Mayor,
or the City Manager may nominate an employee, cross-functional team
or committee for annual recognition by completing and submitting an
annual recognition award nomination form to the Department of Human
Resources. Nominations must be submitted no later than the first day
of August of the year of nomination and shall consider a twelve-month
period ending on July 31. Awards shall become a part of the official
personnel file of the City employee.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by L.L. No. 2022-07]
B.
Quarterly recognition.
(1)
Purpose: to publicly recognize individuals for significant
contributions.
(2)
Criteria: the individual has demonstrated initiative
and extra effort in accomplishing a task in a quality manner. Nominators
should consider if the employee exhibits efficiency and sensitivity,
respects differences and appreciates others within the workforce and
the community.
(3)
Eligibility: any City employee, cross-functional team
or committee. No elected official shall be eligible for nomination
or selection.
(4)
Nominators: any employee, Alderperson, the Mayor,
or the City Manager may nominate an employee, cross-functional team
or committee for quarterly recognition by completing and submitting
a quarterly recognition nomination form to the Department of Human
Resources. Awards shall become a part of the official personnel file
of the City employee.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by L.L. No. 2022-07]
A.
Purpose. In the spirit of employees recognizing their
peers, efforts in positively influencing the work environment, there
shall be created an instant recognition award mechanism whereby any
employee who has received five appreciation cards for exceptional
service in any given month shall be recognized with an award.
B.
Criteria: the employee has enhanced the work place
by performing a kind act, accomplishing a task or project in a manner
that exhibits efficiency or sensitivity, respects differences and/or
appreciates others.
C.
Eligibility: any City employee, as "City employee"
is defined in the Charter of the City of Ithaca, § C-110A.
D.
Procedure: any City employee may recognize another,,
employee by completing an appreciation card and submitting such card
to the employee. The employee so recognized may submit five such appreciation
cards to the Department of Human Resources for an instant recognition
award.
The Annual and Quarterly Award Boards, in consultation
with the Director of Human Resources, may determine the nature and
extent of the merit awards to be made under this article. The Director
of Human Resources shall determine the nature and extent of instant
recognition awards.
