(a) The Council of the Village of East Palestine in Columbiana County, Ohio, hereby authorizes the public entity to purchase and use “employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy” through PEP instead of individual surety bonds for officers, employees, and appointees who are otherwise required by law to acquire a bond before entering upon the discharge of duties.
(b) The following shall apply to the policy:
(1) An officer, employee, or appointee shall be considered qualified to hold the office or employment, without acquiring a bond, on the date the oath of office is taken, certified, and filed as required by law.
(2) An officer, employee, or appointee shall have the employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy in effect before the individual's term of office or employment and the officer, employee or appointee shall not commence the discharge of duties until coverage is documented.
(3) All officers, employees, or appointees who would otherwise be required to file a bond before commencing the discharge of duties shall be covered by and are subject to the employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy instead of a surety bond requirement.
(4) The coverage amount for an officer. employee, or appointee under an employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy shall be equal to or greater than the maximum amount of the bond otherwise required by law.
(5) Elected officials, prior to taking the oath of office and holding office, shall obtain approval of the intent to use the PEP coverage agreement and affirm that the public entities coverage complies with R.C. § 3.061. Said approval shall be obtained by the Finance Director, of the Village of East Palestine, in Columbiana County.
(Res. 11-2023. Passed 8-14-23.)