HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-28-12 City Administration Committee Meeting Agenda - RevisedJ:\DRedsicker\AGENDAS\City Admin Comm\2012\11-28 CA Agenda.doc 11/28/12
City Administration Meeting
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
6:00 p.m.
City Hall - Council Chambers
AGENDA
1. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement
2. Announcements
3. Agenda Review and Amendments
4. Approval of Minutes
5. Statements from the Public
6. Employee Comments
7. City Administration Members Response
8. Workforce Diversity Committee
9. Mayor’s Report
10. Fire Department
13.1 Request to Increase Fees - Resolution 10 Min
11. Budget Process Afterthoughts 30 Min
12. IURA
12.1 Recommendation that Condemned Property be Ineligible for an Installment 15 Min
Plan for Payment of Delinquent Property Taxes – Discussion
12.2 Housing Fund, Funding Round #6 – Authorize Disbursement of $230,000 10 Min
Pursuant to an Executed MOU – Resolution
12.3 Housing Fund, Funding Round #6, Authorize Disbursement of $230,000 5 Min
Pursuant to an Executed MOU - Lead Agency - Resolution
12.4 Housing Fund, Funding Round #6, Authorize Disbursement of $230,000 5 Min
Pursuant to an Executed MOU – Environmental Determination - Resolution
13. Attorney’s Office
13.1 Authorization to Enter into a Lease Agreement with Tompkins County for 10 Min
use of City Land Located on Linn Street for a TCAT Bus Shelter – Resolution
14. Police Department
14.1 Request to Approve Contract with Ithaca City School District for 5 Min
School Resource Officer – Resolution
If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you to fully
participate in the meeting, please contact the City Controller’s Office at 607-274-6576 at least 48 hours
before the meeting.
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CITY ADMINISTRATION MEETING
November 28, 2012
Agenda
Continued
15. Department of Public Works
15.1 IAWWTF – Request to Establish Funding for Septage Receiving 10 Min
Building - Resolution
16. Human Resources
16.1 Amendment of Managerial Benefits for 2013 - Resolution 10 Min
16.2 Director’s Report 5 Min
17. Finance/Controller’s Office
17.1 Bond Resolution 5 Min
17.2 Controller’s Report 5 Min
18 Reports
18.1 Novak Report 5 Min
18.2 Next Month’s Meeting: Monday, December 16, 2012
If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you to fully
participate in the meeting, please contact the City Controller’s Office at 607-274-6576 at least 48 hours
before the meeting.
J:\DRedsicker\AGENDAS\City Admin Comm\2012\11-28 CA Agenda.doc 11/28/12
10. Fire Department
.1 Request to Increase Fees
WHEREAS, section 181-9 F(1) of the Code of the City of Ithaca states the Fire Chief shall
promulgate a fee schedule applicable to the permits authorized under such code; and,
WHEREAS, §181-9 F states that fees established in the fee schedule shall reasonably reflect the
cost of receiving, investigating, processing, and issuing each of said permits; and,
WHEREAS, §181-9 F requires that any schedule and said changes proposed thereto shall be
submitted to the Common Council for adoption prior to the collection of such fees; and,
WHEREAS, the permit fee schedule is based on the labor costs of performing the inspections
and processing the permits; and because of subsequent salary increases and associated cost of
fringe benefits the current fees do not reflect the actual costs of the services being provided; and,
WHEREAS, the fees were last adjusted and approved by Common Council on January 7th, 2009;
and,
WHEREAS, a proposal has been prepared and submitted to increase fees generally and as
stipulated in the attached schedule, from $44.00 to $50.00 per hour, and from $66.00 to $75.00
per hour for work performed during non-business hours, which will result in such fees reflecting
current costs; and,
WHEREAS, the prepared proposal includes the additional permit fees for processing and the
administration of permits over and above the costs of the actual inspections for issuing such
permits; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby approves the proposed increase in permit fees as
proposed; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That these changes shall be authorized upon adoption of this resolution by
Common Council, with an effective date of January 1, 2013.
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2013 Fire Prevention Permit and Inspection Fees
Permit Type 2009 through 2012
Fee Schedule
2013 Fee
Schedule
Comments
Assembly Occupancy
Permit – new or
expired
$100/building Issued annually and does not
include inspection fees
Assembly Occupancy
Permit – renewal
$50/building Issued annually and does not
include inspection fees
Elevator Permit $60/elevator unit Issued every 3 years and does
not include inspection fees
Lumberyard
Occupancy Permit
$50 Issued annually and does not
include inspection fees
Hazardous Occupancy
Permit
$50 Issued annually and does not
include inspection fees
Fireworks Use Permit $44 $50 Per event and does not
include inspection fees
Explosives Use Permit $44 $50 Per location and does not
include inspection fees
Bon Fire Permit $44 $50 Per event and includes 1
inspection
Asphalt Kettles Use
Permit
$44 $50 Per location/month and
includes 1 inspection
Temporary Propane
Permit
$44 $50 1 month/venue and includes 1
inspection
Temporary Propane
Permit
$104 $125 6 months/venue and includes
up to 2 inspections
Temporary Propane
Permit
$172 $200 6 months/venue and includes
up to 4 inspections
Welding and Cutting
Permit
$44 $50 1 month / firm or business
and includes 1 inspection
Welding and Cutting
Permit
$104 $125 6 months / firm or business
and includes up to 2
inspections
Welding and Cutting
Permit
$172 $200 12 months / firm or business
and includes up to 4
inspections
Inspection Rates during
business hours
$44/hour $50/hour
Inspection Rates during
non-business hours
$66/hour $75/hour
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12. IURA
.2 Housing Fund, Funding Round #6 – Authorize Disbursement of $230,000 Pursuant to an
Executed MOU
WHEREAS, the Housing Fund Program Oversight Committee (POC) met on November 15,
2012, to review recommendations from the Application Review Committee of round #6 funding
applications for new affordable housing projects; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is represented on the POC by Alderperson J.R. Clairborne,
Alderperson Chris Proulx, and Doug Dylla, past member of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency
(IURA); and
WHEREAS, the Housing Fund was established in 2009 by Memorandum of Agreement (MOU)
as a six-year program between and among the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County and Cornell
University to capitalize and award funds to increase the supply of permanently affordable
housing in the County, and
WHEREAS, the Common Council found that City contributions to the Housing Fund should be
used to assist projects located within the City of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, City funds committed to the Housing Fund are derived from Gateway Loan
proceeds that originated from sale of City-owned land for the Eddygate project, and are held by
the IURA, and
WHEREAS, a total of up to $880,000 is available to award in round #6 as follows:
Funding Sources ($1,000s)
Cornell Tompkins City of
Funding Awards University County Ithaca Total
Total 4-Year Funding
Commitment 800400400 1,600
Round #1 (2009) 14510030 275
Round #2 (2010) 757070 215
Round #3 (2011) 1001000 200
Round #4 (2011) 0030 30
Round #5 (2012) 0 0 0 0
Totals Awards 320270130 720
Remaining Funds for Round #6 480130270 880
and,
WHEREAS, the POC recommends round #6 funding of a total of $780,000 for six affordable
housing projects, of which the City of Ithaca (City) is recommended to fund $230,000 as
follows; now therefore, be it
Round #6, Housing Fund - Recommended Funding Awards
Applicant Project # Location Funding ($1,000s)
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Afford.
Units
Cornell County City Total
INHS 10 Hawthorne
Circle
1 owner-
occupied
City of
Ithaca
00 30 30
INHS/
Pathstone
Stone Quarry
Apt. 35 rental City of
Ithaca
1000 100 200
Habitat Village
Builds
4 owner-
occupied
(V)Groton
&
T-burg
1200 0 120
Lakeview
Mental
Health
Seneca/State
Meadow St.
Housing
56 rental
City of
Ithaca
1000 100 200
BHTC/NRP
Lansing
Senior
Cottages
68 rental
(T)
Lansing
70130 0 200
New Earth
Living
Aurora
Pocket
Neighborhood
1 owner-
occupied
City of
Ithaca
300 0 30
Totals 165 420130 230 780
RESOLVED, That the Common Council for the City of Ithaca hereby authorizes a total
expenditure of up to $230,000, pursuant to the Housing Fund MOU, to assist the following
projects as recommended by the Housing Fund’s Program Oversight Committee:
$100,000 Stone Quarry Apartments, INHS/Pathstone
$100,000 Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing, Lakeview Mental Health
$30,000 10 Hawthorne Circle, INHS, and be it further,
$230,000
RESOLVED, That such funds shall be derived from Gateway Loan Proceeds held by the Ithaca
Urban Renewal Agency, and be it further,
RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized, subject to advice of the City Attorney, to execute a
fiscal agency agreement with Tompkins County to implement this resolution.
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12. IURA
.3 Housing Fund, Funding Round #6, Authorize Disbursement of $230,000 Pursuant to an
Executed MOU - Lead Agency
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council is considering approving funding assistance,
pursuant to the Cornell/City/County Housing Fund MOU, to the following affordable housing
projects as recommended by the Program Oversight Committee:
$100,000 Stone Quarry Apartments, 35 new rental units, INHS/Pathstone
$100,000 Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing, 56 new rental units, Lakeview
Mental Health Services
$30,000 10 Hawthorne Circle, 1 rehabilitated owner-occupied unit, INHS
$230,000 and,
WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176.6 of CEQRO require that a Lead Agency be established
for conducting environmental review of proposed actions in accordance with local and state
environmental law, and
WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental review the
Lead Agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and
funding or carrying out the action, and
WHEREAS, the construction of 15 or more dwelling units is a Type I action under the City
Environmental Quality Review Ordinance (CEQRO), and
WHEREAS, the proposed 35-unit Stone Quarry Apartments project has already completed
environmental review through the City’s site plan review process resulting in issuance of a
negative declaration by the City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board (Planning Board) on
October 23, 2012, and
WHEREAS, the proposed 10 Hawthorne Circle project consists of rehabilitation of an existing,
vacant, single-family home and qualifies as a Type II action listed at 176-5C(2) that requires no
environmental review, and
WHEREAS, the proposed 56-unit Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing project will undergo a
future environmental review by the Planning Board through the site plan review process prior to
issuance of any building permit, and
WHEREAS, the Stone Quarry and Seneca/State/Meadow Street projects seek low-income
housing tax credit allocations through the New York State unified funding process that has
revised its submission deadline to January 8, 2012, and
WHEREAS, a written local funding commitment makes a project significantly more
competitive for funding assistance through the New York State unified funding process, and
WHEREAS, without receipt of funding assistance through the New York State unified funding
process the Seneca/State/Meadow Street housing project will not proceed, and
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WHEREAS, the above circumstances warrant segmenting the environmental review of the
proposed action to commit funding for the Seneca/State/Meadow Street housing project from the
site plan review of the Seneca/State/Meadow Street housing project, which segmentation is no
less protective of the environment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council does hereby declare itself Lead Agency
for the segmented environmental review of the proposed action to approve funding assistance,
pursuant to the Cornell/City/County Housing Fund MOU, to the following affordable housing
projects as recommended by the Program Oversight Committee:
$100,000 Stone Quarry Apartments, 35 new rental units, INHS/Pathstone
$100,000 Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing, 56 new rental units Lakeview
Mental Health Services
$30,000 10 Hawthorne Circle, 1 rehabilitated owner-occupied unit, INHS
$230,000.
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12. IURA
.4 Housing Fund, Funding Round #6, Authorize Disbursement of $230,000 Pursuant to an
Executed MOU – Environmental Determination
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council is considering approving funding assistance,
pursuant to the Cornell/City/County Housing Fund MOU, to the following affordable housing
projects as recommended by the Program Oversight Committee:
$100,000 Stone Quarry Apartments, 35 new rental units, INHS/Pathstone
$100,000 Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing, 56 new rental units, Lakeview
Mental Health Services
$30,000 10 Hawthorne Circle, 1 rehabilitated owner-occupied unit, INHS
$230,000 and,
WHEREAS, on December 5, 2012, the City of Ithaca Common Council declared itself Lead
Agency for the environmental review of this proposed action, and
WHEREAS, the construction of 15 or more dwelling units is a Type I action under the City
Environmental Quality Review Ordinance (CEQRO), and
WHEREAS, the proposed 35-unit Stone Quarry Apartments project has already completed
environmental review through the City’s site plan review process resulting in issuance of a
negative declaration by the City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board (Planning Board) on
October 23, 2012, and
WHEREAS, the proposed 10 Hawthorne Circle project consists of rehabilitation of an existing,
vacant, single-family home and qualifies as a Type II action listed at 176-5C(2) that requires no
environmental review, and
WHEREAS, the proposed 56-unit Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing project will undergo a
future environmental review by the Planning Board through the site plan review process prior to
issuance of any building permit for the project, and
WHEREAS, the Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing project seeks low-income housing tax
credit allocations through the New York State unified funding process that has revised its
submission deadline to January 8, 2012, and
WHEREAS, a written local funding commitment makes a project significantly more competitive
to receive funding assistance through the New York State unified funding process, and
WHEREAS, without receipt of funding assistance through the New York State unified funding
process the Seneca/State/Meadow Street housing project will not proceed, and
WHEREAS, the above circumstances warrant segmenting the environmental review of the
proposed action to commit funding for the Seneca/State/Meadow Street housing project from the
site plan review of the Seneca/State/Meadow Street housing project, which segmentation is no
less protective of the environment; now, therefore, be it
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WHEREAS, the Full Environmental Assessment Form (“FEAF”) and supporting information
has been provided to the City of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council for review of the
proposed action and no comments have been received to date, and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council, acting as Lead Agency for the environmental
review, has reviewed and accepted as adequate a Full Environmental Assessment Form, Part 1
and Part 2; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby determines that
approving funding assistance, pursuant to the Cornell/City/County Housing Fund MOU, to the
following affordable housing projects as recommended by the Program Oversight Committee:
$100,000 Stone Quarry Apartments, 35 new rental units, INHS/Pathstone
$100,000 Seneca/State/Meadow Street Housing, 56 new rental units, Lakeview
Mental Health Services
$30,000 10 Hawthorne Circle, 1 rehabilitated owner-occupied unit, INHS
$230,000
will result in no significant impact on the environment and that a Negative Declaration for
purposes of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the
provisions of Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
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13. Attorney’s Office
.1 Authorization to Enter into a Lease Agreement with Tompkins County for use of City
Land Located on Linn Street for a TCAT Bus Shelter
WHEREAS, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT), a not-for-profit corporation, has
installed and maintained, at its cost, a bus shelter located approximately ten feet south of the
Cascadilla Creek bridge, between the sidewalk and curb, on the east side of the 100 block of
Linn Street, in the City of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, the site of the TCAT bus shelter is within the City’s right of way for Linn Street,
and
WHEREAS, the installation and maintenance of the bus shelter provides a clear and desirable
benefit to City residents, and
WHEREAS, the TCAT bus shelter is currently in use and the City wishes to finalize such
agreement with the County regarding the use of said City land for the shelter, and
WHEREAS, Section 170-11 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code, which is entitled “Form and
Terms of Leases and Easements”, states that leases of City land shall be subject to approval by
Common Council, and
WHEREAS, the City’s streets and corresponding rights of way are within the Board of Public
Works’ scope and authority, and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Public Works does not anticipate any conflicts in the near
future with public works uses or needs, due to the existing use of City owned property at this
location, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Work has recommended Common Council’s approval of such a
lease agreement; and now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Common Council hereby authorizes and directs the Mayor, upon the
advice and counsel of the City Attorney, to enter into a lease agreement with Tompkins County,
without consideration, for the County’s use of the aforementioned City land to accommodate
said shelter, in exchange for the provision of the bus shelter and continued maintenance and
repair of said shelter for the duration of the lease term all at no cost to the City, which lease shall
include standard terms and provisions, as applicable, and which shall (1) indemnify and hold the
City harmless with regard to use of the shelter, (2) allow the County to sublease the premises to
TCAT or any comparable transit entity for the purpose of maintaining a bus shelter thereon, and
(3) have an original term of ten years, with provision for automatic renewal upon the same terms
for up to eight five-year periods thereafter, unless either party notifies the other, in advance, of
its intention not to renew.
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14. Police Department
.1 Request to Approve Contract with Ithaca City School District for School Resource
Officer
WEHREAS, the 2013 authorized Police Department budget included funding for a School
Resource Officer for the Ithaca City School District, and
WHEREAS, the School Resource Officer would start working at the school district in early 2013
and be funded approximately 75% by the Ithaca City School District and 25% by the City, and
WHEREAS, the contract details between the Ithaca City School District and the City of Ithaca
are currently being negotiated; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Mayor, with the advice of the City Attorney, is hereby authorized to
negotiate and execute an agreement with the Ithaca City School District for provisions of a
School Resource Officer with approximately 75% of said officer’s expenses to be paid to the
City by the School District.
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15. Department of Public Works
.1 Septage Receiving Facility Project Funding
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Special Joint Committee at its
November 14, 2012 regular meeting selected the three lowest qualified bids for General
Construction, Electrical and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, for the rebuilding of the
Septage Receiving Facility, and
WHEREAS, the lowest qualified bid for Contract #12-001 and its alternate 12-001A for General
Construction submitted by McPherson Builders in the amount of $1,919,000 and $1,936,000
respectively, and
WHEREAS, the lowest qualified bid for Contract #12-002 for Electrical Construction submitted
by Nelcorp Electrical in the amount of $339,250, and
WHEREAS, the lowest qualified bid for Contract #12-003 for Heating Ventilating and Air
Conditioning Construction by JW Danforth Co. in the amount of $524,000, and
WHEREAS, the cost for these contracts shall be borne by the Town of Dryden, Town of Ithaca
and the City of Ithaca based on the percentage of ownership assigned to each municipality; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the partners hereby authorizes the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment
Facility Septage Receiving Facility rebuild in the amount not to exceed $3,077,475, which
includes the contract values plus a 10% contingency, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility is hereby authorized to
negotiate a final contract based on this resolution, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Mayor, the Town of Ithaca Supervisor and the Town of
Dryden Supervisor be authorized to sign the contracts, and be it
RESOLVED, That in accordance with the final contracts to be negotiated between the partners
and the three qualified lowest bidders, funding for said project shall be acquired thru the issuance
of Serial Bonds based on the following schedule which are to include interest rates as stipulated
by the City of Ithaca Controller, and
Municipality Percentage Project Cost
City of Ithaca 57.14 $ 1,758,469.22
Town of Ithaca 40.88 $ 1,258,071.78
Town of Dryden 1.98 $ 60,934.00
$ 3,077,475.00
be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby establishes Joint Activity Capital Project 418J
Septage Receiving Facility in the amount not to exceed $3,077,475, and be it further
RESOLVED, That funding for said project is contingent on the approval of the City of Ithaca,
Town of Ithaca, and the Town of Dryden.
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16. Human Resources
.1 Amendment of Managerial Benefits for 2013
WHEREAS, Periodic updates are required to clarify existing practices or to indicate changes in
benefits for managerial personnel not covered by a bargaining unit, and
WHEREAS, The Human Resources Director has revised and updated the Fringe Benefits for
Managerial Personnel accordingly; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the current fringe benefits for managerial personnel not covered by a
bargaining unit be amended as follows:
CITY OF ITHACA
FRINGE BENEFITS FOR MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL
1. Annual Leave:
Managerial employees shall earn annual leave on a monthly basis in accordance with the
following schedule:
Length of Service 40 hours/week 35 hours/week
less than 2 years 10 hrs/mo (3 wks)` 9 hrs/mo (3 wks)
2-4 years 14 hrs/mo (4 wks) 12 hrs/mo (4 wks)
5-9 years 17 hrs/mo (5 wks) 15 hrs/mo (5 wks)
10 or more years 20 hrs/mo (6 wks) 18 hrs/mo (6 wks)
Annual leave shall be posted on the first day of each month, beginning with the first day
of the month following the month of hire.
Annual leave may be accumulated up to a maximum of forty (40) days; provided,
however, that no more than thirty (30) days of accumulated annual leave shall be paid on
separation from service. Unused annual leave in excess of this amount may be applied
toward the purchase of health and dental insurance upon retirement.
An employee may elect to cash in up to ten (10) days of unused annual leave in
December of any calendar year.
2. Holidays:
Holiday leave shall be as follows:
January 1st Columbus Day
Martin Luther King Day Veteran’s Day
President’s Day Thanksgiving
Memorial Day Day After Thanksgiving
Independence Day Christmas
Labor Day One (1) annual leave day to be credited
2/1*
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Whenever any of these holidays falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be
considered the holiday. If on Sunday, the following Monday shall be considered the
holiday.
* An annual leave day was added in lieu of Lincoln’s Birthday, pursuant to a resolution
adopted by Common Council on December 5, 2007. The annual leave day is accrued on
February 1st of each year.
Managerial employees who work shortened workweeks (i.e. fewer than five days per
week) that do not coincide with the established managerial holiday benefit schedule shall
receive annual leave accruals on the designated holidays rather than observing the
designated holidays as days off. Annual leave accruals shall be prorated as appropriate,
based on the employees standard workweek. (For example, a 20 hr/wk employee shall
accrue four (4) hours of annual leave on each holiday; a 40 hr/wk employee shall accrue
eight (8) hours of annual leave on each holiday.) Such annual leave accrual shall be a
replacement for paid holidays off, not a supplement to them.
3. Sick Leave:
Sick leave shall accumulate at the rate of one (1) day per month. Sick leave shall be
posted on the first day of each month, beginning with the first day of the month following
the month of hire. There shall be unlimited accumulation of sick leave.
Any employee who is injured in the course of his/her employment and who is entitled to
benefits under the provisions of Workers’ Compensation Law may elect to use his/her
accumulated sick leave benefits to cover the workers compensation absence. If an
employee elects to do so, the amount of any award made to the employee by the Workers’
Compensation Board for any period of time during which the employee used sick leave
benefits shall be paid to the City of Ithaca, which in turn will reimburse the employee's
sick leave account with the amount of sick leave equivalent to the financial value of the
award.
4. Sick Leave Bank:
In the event that a management level employee is absent from work due to prolonged
illness which has exhausted that employee’s leave credits, fellow management employees
may voluntarily donate earned sick leave time to the affected employee up to a maximum
of five (5) days per donating employee per year. Donated sick leave days shall be
deducted from the earned sick leave time of the donating employee.
Employees may voluntarily make or receive a donation of accumulated sick leave or
annual (vacation) leave to or from any City of Ithaca employee. The employee receiving
the donated time must have exhausted his/her leave time. The request to transfer leave
time must be submitted in writing to the Human Resources Department.
5. Sick Leave Buyout
Upon an employee’s retirement, the employee shall be compensated for unused sick
leave as follows:
a. The employee may elect to receive a cash settlement for unused sick leave not to
exceed $11,000.
The employee may elect to have the above cash settlement paid weekly as regular
salary during his/her last six (6) months of employment; provided, however, that
no such settlement shall be paid until after the employee has submitted a letter of
commitment which specifies the date of retirement.
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If the employee elects to receive the above cash settlement and has accumulated sick
leave credit in excess of the above amount, the remaining sick leave, computed at the
employee’s current rate of pay, may be applied toward the payment of extended health and/or
dental insurance coverage until exhausted.
b. The employee may elect to waive the cash settlement described in (a) above, and
apply all of his/her accumulated sick leave toward extended health and/or dental coverage. If
the cash settlement is waived, extended health and dental insurance coverage shall be
provided at the rate of one (1) month of insurance for each twelve (12) hours of accumulated
sick leave.
In the event of an employee’s death prior to his/her retirement, or if retired, prior to the
exhaustion of remaining accumulated funds, such monies due the employee shall be
applied toward the purchase of health insurance for his/her surviving dependents, if any.
Upon the exhaustion of the above credits in (a) and (b) above, the City will no longer
extend health insurance coverage to retirees and dependents except by direct full payment
to the City by the retiree at the appropriate rate available as determined by the City.
6. Bereavement Leave:
In the event of death in the immediate family of the employee or family of the
employee’s spouse or domestic partner, such employee shall be allowed a leave of
absence with pay to a maximum of three (3) days. The Mayor may grant additional time
as needed.
The immediate family is defined as: the spouse or domestic partner, parent, grandparent,
child, grandchild, brother or sister of the employee or the parent, grandparent, child,
grandchild, brother or sister of the spouse or domestic partner. It shall apply also to any
other relative living in the same household.
In the event of death of a friend, family member not in the immediate family or associate
of an employee, such employee may be allowed a leave of absence with pay of one (1)
day. The Department Head or Mayor, if the department head makes the request, must
approve this leave of absence.
7. Parenting Leave:
Pursuant to Section C-109 (B) (3) of the City Charter, Any employee taking a parenting
leave shall be entitled to use up to eight (8) weeks of accumulated sick leave without
providing a doctor’s certificate. Parenting leaves shall be available to both male and
female employees and shall be available only in the case of childbirth or adoption.
Employees may use additional sick time at the end of the eight (8) week period for
parenting leave upon presentation of a doctor’s certificate attesting to the necessity of
such continued leave from employment.
8. Jury Duty:
An employee shall be granted a leave of absence, with pay, at no loss of accrued leave, to
serve jury duty or to appear as a witness pursuant to subpoena, or other order of the court
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upon presentation to the City of proof thereof. Any compensation received from the
court except expense reimbursement, shall be returned to the City.
9. Work Schedule:
The City recognizes the need to provide a certain degree of flexibility in the work
schedules of managerial employees to accommodate for work performed during non-
traditional work hours.
10. Health & Dental Insurance:
For employees hired before January 1, 2005: Effective January 1, 2005, an employee
contribution of up to 7% of the premium equivalent based upon the attached sliding scale.
Effective January 1, 2006, an employee contribution of up to 11% of the premium
equivalent based upon the attached scale.
New employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, shall contribute 18% of the full
premium equivalent in 2005 and 20% of the full premium equivalent in 2006 and
thereafter.
Please note that the premium equivalent listed on the sliding scale for 2006 may not be
the actual amount. The premium equivalent for the upcoming year is determined before
December of each year.
Effective January 1, 2001, the employee prescription drug co-pay increases to $2 for
generic drugs and $10 for brand drugs. This co-pay is not reimbursable through any
section of the Health Insurance program. Under this co-pay, each prescription may be
filled for up to a three month supply.
All employees shall contribute 20% of the health insurance premium equivalent for the
type of health insurance (individual or family coverage) that the employee has elected.
Effective January 1, 2013, the employee prescription drug co-pay shall be $5 for generic
drugs, $15 for brand name drugs that do not have a generic equivalent, and $30 for
brand drugs that have a generic equivalent. Each prescription may be filled for up to a
three month supply at a time.
The City will provide the Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield Schedule A Dental Plan as
individual and/or family coverage, at no cost to the employee. Employees who elect to
carry prime blue dental insurance instead of the Schedule A Dental Plan shall be
responsible for payment of the difference between the two premiums.
Employees who elect to carry Focus Vision Insurance shall be responsible for payment of
the full premium.
11. Retirement:
The City shall provide membership in the New York State Employees’ Retirement
System with benefits as described in the “Improved Non-Contributory Plan” (Section 75-
i). In addition, the City shall provide Section 384d benefits for members of the
uniformed services, including Section 302(9)(D) for Tier 1 members.
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12. Day Care:
The City shall continue to provide the established Day Care Assistance Program (Cash
Subsidy Program, Flexible Spending Account and Flexible Work Schedule) according to
the program and procedures adopted by the Ithaca Common Council.
13. Educational Assistance:
The City of Ithaca agrees to pay the tuition for education courses, including technical and
trade schools, to assist employees in furthering their education and enhancing their ability
and effectiveness on the job. Such assistance shall be limited to courses which are related
to an employee’s position and which will further development in the performance of the
employee’s duties. Additionally, the employee must receive a passing grade in the
course before reimbursement will be issued.
Educational assistance shall be limited to two (2) courses per calendar year for permanent
or provisional employees. No employee shall receive assistance for more than a career
limit of twenty (20) courses. The City shall pay the actual per hour tuition cost of any
approved courses, provided that any employee who receives educational assistance shall
reimburse the City for the cost of any course if the employee chooses to leave City
employment within six (6) months of the conclusion of that course.
14. Mileage Reimbursement:
Employees who are required to use their personal automotive vehicle in the conduct of
official business shall be reimbursed at the prevailing IRS rate.
Revised: