In the event that an employee is seeking additional training or education that is relevant to the employee’s job performance and standing, the employee may advise his or her supervisor or the Town Manager, may provide information on the cost of such efforts, and may apply for partial or full reimbursement of educational costs (tuition, books, supplies and related expenses). Such application must be made in advance of incurring any such costs, if the employee desires payment or reimbursement of such costs. The funding for such payment or reimbursement must be included in the budget of the employee’s department. It is entirely in the discretion of the Town Council whether to grant such request, in whole or in part. The factors which the Council will consider include, but are not limited to: the length of the employee’s tenure with the town, the nature of the employee’s duties, the employee’s prior job performance, the availability of funds, and the likelihood of benefit to the town from such additional training or education. The Town Manager may make a recommendation to the Council. The town and the employee shall consider the payment or reimbursement to be a loan, repayable by the employee, unless all of the conditions negotiated between the town and the employee are met, which may include the employee’s continued employment by the town for a particular period of time.
(Ord. 733A, passed 7-20-2015)