HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2000-008 Personnel Ordinance Revision Tuition Refund - z9 - z, 00c
' Attachment 3
Draft Personnel Ordinance Revision
Article IV, Section 16.0, Tuition Refund Program
(Change in Item 16.1.4 Only)
96.0 Tuition Refund Program and Educational Leave
Full-time and part-time permanent employees may be eligible to obtain
financial assistance for the purpose of furthering the education and skills
of County employees.
16.1 Employees who are not receiving educational assistance from other
governmental sources shall be eligible to apply for assistance
under this program. The recipient must be a County employee at
the time of refund.
16.1.1 The Tuition Refund Program shall be administered by the
County Manager.
16.1.2 All courses shall be eligible when, in the opinion of the
relevant Department Head and the Personnel Director, the
course will either improve the employee's.ability to do their
present job or help prepare the employee for a County
position which will demand a higher skill or ability level.
The initiative for participation in the program must originate
with the employee. Participation is on the employee's own
.time off except as specified in section 16.1.13. (Sheriff
Department employees taking Law Enforcement related
courses are not eligible under this program as they have
own existing program.)
16.1.3 All courses must be job related and approved by the
Department Head and the County Manager. Courses must
help the employee in their present position or prepare the
employee for greater training, skills, or knowledge in a
career with the County. The candidate for tuition refund or
educational leave will be required to file a formal
application for such leave with the department head. All
approvals for tuition refunds must be obtained in advance
of class enrollment.
16.1.4 Total costs which the County agrees to sha._ will pay for
each eligible employee are limited to $309 no more than
$600 in a fiscal year for tuition, fees and books required for
the courses. Activity fees are not reimbursable. Receipts
for all reimbursable expenses must be attached to the
request turned in following successful completion of the
course. Travel is reimbursable, only on date of registration
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for the course. Verification of a passing grade or
successful completion must also accompany the request.
(A grade of "C" or "Pass" is required in formal course
work.) Nothing is paid if the employee fails to complete the
course.
16.1.5 Funding for the program shall be available up to the limits
established by the County Commissioners and monies
shall be disbursed on a fiscal year basis.
16.1.6 Request for reimbursement must be made within 30 days
of course completion. The employee shall be responsible
for obtaining reimbursements.
16.1.7 Successful completion of the course or degree shall not
warrant additional pay.
16.1.8 All reimbursement checks shall be forwarded to the
employee via the Finance Department.
16.1.9 Expenses for training courses, seminars or workshops
shall not be reimbursed under this procedure. See Article
III. Section 9.
16.1.10 An employee may receive an advance payment of no more
than 50% of the tuition costs, (verification of costs must
accompany request for advance payment) provided they
shall agree to repay the County should their employment
terminate prior to and/or before a date within one month of
course completion or should the employee fail to complete
the course as specified in Section 16.1.4.
16.1.11 In the event that repayment is necessary, repayment shall
be made to the County by direct reimbursement or by
payroll deduction within two semi-monthly periods or a one
month period. Authorization or the number and amount of
payroll deductions shall be made by the County Manager.
16.1.12 The County Manager may consult with the relevant
Department Heads in determining termination status of an
employee and may also enlist the aid of the County
Revenue Department in securing repayment.
16.1.13 Upon recommendation of the supervising department head
and the approval of the Manager, a leave of absence at full
or part pay during or outside of regular working hours may
be granted to permit an employee to take courses of study
as indicated in Section 16.1.2.
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16.1.14 The procedures and policy for extended educational leave
without pay are synonymous with those outlined for leave
without pay. See Article III Section 4.
16.1.15 An employee going on full Education Leave with pay will be
obligated to remain employed with the County for one (1)
year following completion of their education. If the
agreement is not kept the employee is expected to refund
tuition fees and other expenses paid by the County as
indicated in Section 16.1,11, and/or amounts will be held
out from final compensation due the employee at
termination.
e. Personnel Ordinance Revision —Tuition Refund
The Board considered updating the Orange County personnel ordinance to increase
the tuition refund amount for eligible County employees from $300 to $600 per fiscal year.
Commissioner Gordon said that when Duke University is included in the list of colleges
at$1,620, it increases the average from $480 to $605.
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director, said that Duke University was included so the
Commissioners could have the information and see the tuition amounts at the area universities.
The amount of$600 was recommended because the staff looked at the overall amounts provided
by the employers in the area.
Commissioner Brown asked about the people who have participated in this benefit and
what they have studied.
Elaine Holmes said that the courses range from accounting, computer, social work, and
technical courses.
A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
approve updating the Orange County personnel ordinance to increase the tuition refund amount
for eligible County employees from $300 to $600 per fiscal year.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
9. ITEMS FOR DECISION - REGULAR AGENDA
a. Greene Tract—Cultural Resource and Biological Resources Surveys
The Board discussed the findings of cultural resource and biological resources surveys
of the Greene tract, and related matters.
Rich Shaw from the Environment and Resource Conservation staff summarized these
reports. He said that the cultural resources study uncovered two historic sites, two prehistoric
sites, and four isolated finds in the Greene Tract. There was the Byrd farmhouse, a late
nineteenth century home site; and the Potts house, a mid-nineteenth century home site. There
was nothing noteworthy found about the prehistoric sites. The two home sites may be eligible for
the National Register of Historic Place designation. A higher level of survey is needed on these
two sites before any land disturbing activities can take place. He pointed out that both of the home
sites are south of the 60-acre section of the property that the County is interested in. He
summarized the biological resources survey. The report is an interim report because the findings
are not complete. The final report is expected next week. He explained the topography of the
property. A recent Triangle Land Conservancy report identified the Greene Tract as containing
prime forests providing wildlife habitat in Orange County. There have been no protected species
identified on the property, plant or animal. However, there is suitable habitat for five protected
animals and one protected plant species. He said that the final report would document areas of
the tract that should be protected.
Commissioner Brown made reference to the photographs in the cultural resources
survey report and asked about the Byrd farmhouse. She asked if there was still a road access to
this house and Rich Shaw said that he was not sure.
Discussion ensued about the position of the line for the 60 acres.
Commissioner Brown said that the line should be eliminated until the reports are
complete and the line means something.
John Link asked for comments or advice from the County Commissioners to the staff
about the 60 acres.
Commissioner Gordon clarified part of the significance of drawing the boundaries of
Property E. She read from page 3 of the interlocal agreement under the Effective Date: "The
County will assume solid waste management responsibility the day following the effective date of
the zoning of the property described as Exhibit E which makes solid waste management uses, not
including burial of mixed solid waste or construction and demolition waste, a permitted use under
the Chapel Hill Development Code/Ordinance, as provided in Part 5 of this Agreement, so long as
that date is at least 180 days after the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the current
owners of the System and so long as the Greene Tract Owners have agreed on the boundaries of
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