§ 86-107. New appointment starting rates.

(a)

A new employee shall normally be paid at the minimum salary of the assigned pay range; except that the human resources director may authorize a starting salary above the minimum, when necessary, when a prospective appointee possesses qualifications in excess of the minimum qualifications for the class, or when intense recruitment has failed to attract qualified applicants willing to accept employment at the minimum salary.

(b)

To pay a starting salary above the minimum rate, the appointing authority shall provide written documentation that such action is justified by the exceptional qualifications of the applicant or by lack of qualified applicants available at the minimum salary to the human resources director for authorization.

(c)

Consideration of requests for payment of salary above the minimum will involve evaluation of the applicant's number of years of appropriate experience, education or training in excess of the minimum requirements, and the quality of such experience, education or training.

(d)

An employee receiving an appointment to a permanent position as a trainee may be paid at a rate less than the minimum salary established for the position in accordance with an individual training and salary schedule which has been mutually agreed upon by the appointing authority and the human resources director. If an employee who is eligible and about to be appointed to a trainee position is already paid at a rate equal to, or higher than, the minimum rate, the human resources director may approve appointment at that higher rate or a lower rate depending on the individual circumstances.

(Ord. No. 81-19, § 4.07, 9-3-81; Ord. No. 88-31, § I, 9-15-88; Ord. No. 2016-20, § I, 12-15-16)