Sec. 106.710. - Recruitment and relocation expenses.

(a) An approving authority may approve the payment of recruitment and relocation expenses only for persons being considered for such top-level executive or professional positions as have been defined, approved and to the extent limited by Council resolution and for persons who have been newly hired in such positions but who have not yet become residents of the City. Recruitment expenses may be paid to any such person who is a bona fide candidate, including a person who has been offered employment but has not yet accepted such employment, under the regulations in subsection (b) of this Section. Relocation expenses may be paid only to or on behalf of any such person who has been offered and who has accepted employment with the City or independent agency, under the regulations in subsections (c) and (d) of this Section. (b) A traveler who is a candidate, as defined in Section 106.701 (f)(4)(i) and qualifies under the criteria of Section 106.710 (a); may be reimbursed for round-trip travel, under the provisions and limitations of Section 106.706 , from his current place of residence to the City and return, as often as authorized by the approving authority, and such authority may include such candidate's spouse, for the purpose of employment interviews. While in the City for employment interviews, the traveler (and authorized spouse) may receive reimbursement for lodging and meals, under the provisions and limitations of Sections 106.707 and 106.708 . If authorized by the approving authority, the traveler (and authorized spouse) may receive reimbursement for travel within the City, under the provisions and limitations of Section 106.706 (c), for the purpose of viewing the City and looking for suitable housing that may be available in the City. (c) A traveler who has accepted employment, as defined in Section 106.701 (f)(4)(ii) and qualifies under the criteria of Section 106.710 (a), may be reimbursed for the following expenses in connection with relocating in the City: (1) Transportation to seek permanent residence quarters in the City for the traveler and spouse, under the provisions and limitations of Section 106.706 , and reimbursement for lodging and meals while traveling to and from the City and while in the City, under the provisions and limitations of Sections 106.707 and 106.708 , for this purpose. Expenses under this paragraph may be allowed for only one round trip. (2) Transportation expenses, under the provisions and limitations of Section 106.706 , for the traveler and up to three members of his immediate family from his former place of residence to the City for the purpose of taking up residence in the City. (3) Lodging and meals, under the provisions and limitations of Sections 106.707 and 106.708 , for the traveler and up to three members of his immediate family while en route between his former place of residence and the City. For the purposes of this paragraph, the traveler and each such member of his immediate family shall be entitled to a separate reimbursement under Section 106.708 , at either the subsistence rates allowed by Section 106.708 (a)(1)—(3) or the per diem rate allowed by Section 106.708 (a)(4) for all persons traveling together. (4) The expenses of transporting, packing, crating, temporarily storing, draying and unpacking the household goods and personal effects of the traveler and his immediate family, not in excess of a maximum amount by weight to be specified by the approving authority in advance of the authorization of such transportation. In lieu of such transportation, the approving authority may authorize the traveler who transports a house trailer or mobile dwelling for use as his permanent residence in the City to receive: (i) A reasonable allowance, not in excess of $0.20 per mile, for transportation of the house trailer or mobile dwelling, if the trailer or dwelling is transported by the traveler; or (ii) Commercial transportation of the house trailer or mobile dwelling at public expense, or reimbursement to the traveler therefor, including the payment of necessary tolls, charges and permit fees, if the trailer or dwelling is not transported by the traveler; but in either case payment under this sentence may not exceed the maximum payment to which the traveler otherwise would be entitled under the first sentence of this Section for transportation and temporary storage of his household goods and personal effects. (d) An approving authority may pay relocation expenses under subsection (c) of this Section only after the newly hired employee agrees in writing, prior to the authorization of such travel and transportation, to remain in the service of the approving authority for at least 12 months after his employment date, unless separated for reasons beyond his control which are acceptable to the approving authority. If the individual violates the agreement, the money spent by the approving authority for the expenses and allowances authorized under subsection (c) of this Section is recoverable from the individual as a debt due the City or independent agency, as the case may be; provided, that the agreement may provide that the amount recoverable shall be reduced on a periodic basis during the 12-month period. (Ord. 81-775-491, § 3; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1) Editor's note— Res. 82-468-167 and Res. 83-646-206 defined and approved certain positions within the JEA as "top-level executive or professional positions," but limited reimbursements under this Section to no more than five such positions in any fiscal year without further Council approval. Note— Former § 126.710 .