(a) Entrance Salary Rates.
(1) Starting rate on initial employment. Original appointment to any position shall be made at the entrance rate and advancement from the entrance rate to the maximum rate within a pay range shall be by successive steps. Upon recommendation of the City Manager, Council may approve initial compensation at a rate higher than the minimum rate in the pay range for the class when the needs of the service make such action necessary; provided that any exception is based on the outstanding and unusual character of the employee's experience and ability over and above the qualification requirements specified for the class or that a critical shortage of applicants exists. In the latter case any incumbents receiving a lower rate shall have their rates increased to the rate established for entrance of new employees.
(2) Starting rate on return to duty. When an employee returns to duty in the same class of position after a separation from the City service of not more than one year, which separation was not due to discreditable circumstances, such employee shall receive the rate in the pay range at the step corresponding to the step of the rate received at the time of separation and shall subsequently serve there for at least such period as is normally required for advancement to the next higher rate.
(3) Starting rate on return from military service. Any employee who leaves or has left the City service to enter the active service of the armed forces of the United States and who subsequently is reinstated to a position previously held by him shall be entitled to receive the rate of compensation at the step to which he would have been entitled had his service with the City not been interrupted by service in the armed forces.
(4) Starting rate in new position. Whenever an employee is assigned to duty in a position not previously held by him and such change is not in the nature of a promotion, he shall receive the entrance rate in the range established for such new position or such other rate within the applicable range as he may be entitled to by reason of crediting him in his new position with prior service. Only if the character and nature of the duties of the position to which the employee was assigned are similar to those of the new position and the service in the former position provided experience valuable to the performance of the new position can he be credited with prior service.
(5) Rate of pay on promotion. In any class where an employee is promoted to a class with a higher base maximum rate, the entrance rate shall be at the lowest step in the higher range that shall provide an increase of about ten percent (10%) over the rate received immediately prior to such promotion; provided that in cases where the maximum rate of the position to which promoted is only five percent (5%) above the maximum rate of the former position, the increase on promotion shall be about five percent (5%). Advancement to the maximum rates subsequent to promotion shall be on the same basis as described in subsection (b) hereof.
(b) Salary Advancement Within Range. Increases within appropriate ranges shall be based on merit and shall be from one step to the next higher step with approval of the City Manager.
(c) Requirements As To Continuity of Service. Service requirements for advancement within pay ranges and for other purposes as specified in this chapter means continuous service, which means employment in the City service without break or interruption. Leaves of absence with pay and leaves without pay of ten or less days shall not interrupt continuous service nor be deducted therefrom. Absence on leave without pay in excess of ten days, except for extended service with the armed forces of the United States or the Peace Corps, shall be deducted in computing total service but shall not serve to interrupt continuous service. All absences without leave in excess of three work days in any calendar month shall be deducted form and shall interrupt continuity of service.
(1980 Code 37.13 (A), (B), (D); Ord. 9740)