§ 2.06.190. Educational incentive program.

There is hereby established a career educational incentive program offering base compensation increases to regular full-time employees enumerated in Table III, Division 1, subsections H through J, A-2-B-1 of the ordinance codified in this section. The purpose of the program is both to provide an incentive for employees to further their education and to attract quality candidates to municipal employment.

To facilitate the financial transition of the educational incentive program over two fiscal years, the base compensation of employees enumerated in Table III, Division I, subsections H through J, A-2-B-1 with certified degrees shall be increased as follows:

A.

For employees with certified masters degrees or above, the base compensation shall be increased by five percent effective July 1, 2001 and an additional five percent effective July 1, 2002.

B.

For employees with certified bachelors degrees, the base compensation shall be increased by three and three quarters percent effective July 1, 2001 and an additional three and three quarters percent effective July 1, 2002.

C.

For employees with certified associates degrees or equivalent collegiate academic credits, the base compensation shall be increased by one and three quarters percent effective July 1, 2001 and an additional one and three quarters percent effective July 1, 2002.

All degrees shall be earned in an educational institution accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or by the Board of Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The treasurer/collector shall certify the amount of the educational incentive compensation increases to be allocated to the personnel of the various departments enumerated herein from information filed with said office on or before February first of each year for the succeeding fiscal year budget. Said information shall be filed on a form to be furnished by the office of the treasurer/collector. Any employee who fails to file said form by February first shall not be entitled to collect the educational incentive for the following fiscal year. An employee may receive an increase in base compensation for only the highest degree attained.

Any employee required to have a license issued by the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards, the State Board of Examiners and Electricians or the State Board of Examiners and Plumbers and Gas Fitters as a condition of employment who subsequently obtains a more advanced license issued by the same entity shall have his/her compensation increased by one and three quarters percent effective July 1, 2001, and an additional one and three quarters percent effective July 2, 2002, except that no such increase shall be available to any employee receiving an educational degree incentive under this section, and no employee shall receive payment for more than one license.

(C.O.01-299 § 1, 2001; 00-603 § 2, 2000)