Council adopts updated employee policies; staff to develop grant-incentive and review federal rules

The Lindon City Council adopted updates to the city’s policies and procedures manual that clarify employee expectations and add several technical provisions. The updates were approved as Resolution 2025-20-R after a staff presentation and brief council discussion.

Key updates included: - A prohibition on medical-cannabis use for positions that require federal certifications or where such use could jeopardize federal funding, a federal security clearance or other federal background determinations (examples cited: CDL drivers and certain sworn positions). - Overtime and care-and-maintenance pay provisions for canine handlers, reflecting federal guidance on canine-care requirements. - A clarification that employees placed on administrative leave must remain available on short notice (24-hour availability) during the leave for investigatory or related purposes. - Social-media guidance clarifying that personal posts that clearly identify an employee as a city representative may be subject to disciplinary action if they are harmful, abusive or in violation of policy.

City staff told the council they are working on a grant-incentive policy that would provide employees a modest incentive for securing external grant funding on behalf of the city; staff cautioned they will seek legal review to ensure the incentive program complies with federal anti-kickback rules. Councilmember discussion noted the incentive would likely be a modest, non-percentage award (for example, gift cards or modest cash awards) and not a large commission-style payment.

Councilmember Jake Hoyt moved to adopt the updated policies; Councilmember Steve Stewart seconded and the resolution passed. Staff will distribute the revised manual to employees and require a review confirmation, and HR will return with the draft grant-incentive policy and legal analysis.