[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Batavia as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Defense and indemnification — See Ch. 9.
Code of Ethics — See Ch. 14.
[Adopted 1-26-1981 as Ch. 103 of the 1981 Code]
The Council of the City of Batavia pursuant to § 77-b of the General Municipal Law delegates the power to the City Manager to authorize attendance, by officers and employees of the City, at conventions, conferences and schools.
A. 
This shall include official or unofficial conventions, conferences of municipal services, or any school conducted for the betterment of municipal government if believed to be of benefit to the City of Batavia.
B. 
Prior to the authorization of such attendance, the City Manager may confer with the Council President.
C. 
Authorization shall be in writing, signed by the City Manager.
Reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses shall be as provided by statute, local law, ordinances and resolutions in such cases made and provided, and in a manner set forth by the Manager. Approval of such expenses shall be by the Manager except that in the case of Councilmen and the Manager, those expenses shall additionally be approved by the Council.
[Adopted 1-13-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997; amended in its entirety 5-12-2025 by L.L. No. 4-2025]
The City Council recognizes that emergency situations arise which require employees of the City of Batavia to be near their place of employment and to assume the continuation of public services to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people. Through adoption of this article, the City Council makes a legislative determination that those who are residents of the City or the County of Genesee take a greater interest in promoting the public safety and health in the future of this community than do nonresidents who reside in areas unaffected by City services. The City Council further declares that such a quality is desirable for its employees. The legislative body considers that residency by its employees within the City or county will assure continuation of essential public services. The City Council determines that the public need is sufficient to require that employees hired or promoted after the effective date of this article be residents of either the City or the county as hereinafter stated.
Residency shall mean, for the purpose of this article, the actual principal domicile of an individual, where he or she normally sleeps and maintains usual personal and household effects.
A. 
Except as otherwise provided by law, the City Council hereby establishes a residency requirement for all prospective employees. Every person initially employed for a position not previously named herein by the City of Batavia on or after the effective date of this article shall, as a qualification of employment, become a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent County to the County of Genesee within six months of the date of conclusion of the probationary period for the City. During the time of service of such an employee, no individual shall cease to be a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent county to the County of Genesee, or of the City of Batavia, depending upon the residency requirements as aforesaid.
B. 
The above requirements pertain to any employee of the City with the exception of those employed as members of the City Fire Department. Such new employees are required to become a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent township to the County of Genesee within six months of the date of conclusion of the probationary period for the City. During the time of service of such an employee, no individual shall cease to be a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent township to the County of Genesee, or of the City of Batavia, depending upon the residency requirements as aforesaid.
Notwithstanding § 22-5, all existing and prospective employees promoted by the City to the positions of City Manager, Assistant City Manager or Clerk-Treasurer on or after the effective date of this article shall be or within one year of such promotion, shall become a resident of the City of Batavia.
A copy of this article shall be provided to each employee upon his or her initial appointment or promotion. However, a failure to do so shall not affect the application of this article to any employee appointed or promoted after its effective date. A copy of this article shall also be posted on all notice boards normally used for employee communications.
A. 
Should it be alleged that an employee is not in compliance with §§ 22-5 or 22-6 of this article, as the case may be, the City Council may initiate a hearing by providing the employee with written notice of his or her alleged violation and shall allow the employee seven calendar days in which to respond. If there is a failure to respond or if, in the judgment of the City Council, the response is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this article, the City Council shall set a date to hear the charge of nonresidence. The employee shall be sent a notice of the hearing date at least 15 calendar days prior to the hearing. A record of the hearing shall be made. Should an employee establish residency to the satisfaction of the City Council prior to the hearing date, it shall result in a cancellation of the hearing authorized by this section.
B. 
To conduct the hearing, the City Council may in writing designate an individual who for the purpose of the hearing shall be vested with all the powers of the City Council and who shall refer the hearing record and his or her recommendations to the City Council for review and decision. Should the City Council determine that an employee is a nonresident in violation of this article, the employee shall be notified in writing that he or she has been deemed to have voluntarily resigned from employment as of the date of the determination. Upon reestablishing residency, an individual having so resigned may apply for reinstatement to his or her former position and shall be reinstated if the position is vacant.
A. 
In the event that the City Council determines that it is in the best interest of the City of Batavia to do so, the provisions of §§ 22-5 or 22-6 may be waived with respect to an incumbent or incumbents of a particular title or titles in accordance with the following standards:
(1) 
Lack of applicants. The requirement of residency may be waived in those instances where the City has difficulty hiring or promoting the most qualified person because of its residency requirement.
(2) 
Necessity for nonresidence. The requirement of residency may be waived in those instances where it is determined that residency is not in the best interest of the municipality.
B. 
Such a waiver shall not in any way affect the application of §§ 22-5 or 22-6 of this article with respect to any other title or titles.