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.
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.