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Council approves narrower gratuities language in personnel manual to allow small gifts and meals
Summary
The City Council amended the personnel manual provisions on gratuities to permit modest gifts such as hats, cups, meals and similar items consistent with state guidance while retaining restrictions on cash and high-value items.
Councilmembers considered amendments to Chapter 1, Section 9(e) and Chapter 5, Section 5.803 of the City of Perry personnel manual governing gratuities and gifts to employees. Staff reported they had compared the city's language to the State's ethics/gratuities guidance and proposed edits designed to retain ethical limits while allowing everyday, modest expressions of appreciation such as promotional items or a meal.
During discussion, councilmembers asked whether the city's charter language requiring gifts to be given to the city rather than individual employees had been updated; staff confirmed the proposed language removes that restriction in practical terms and clarifies acceptable exceptions. Council members raised practical considerations: how meal gifts would be treated, whether tax receipts would be supplied, and whether the policy would still prohibit cash or expensive tickets. Staff explained the policy would continue to prohibit cash and high-value entertainment while allowing low-value promotional items and modest meals, and that the finance office could issue tax-exempt receipts for bona fide donations when relevant.
The council voted to adopt the proposed amendments. Staff said the revised language was largely modeled on the state manual and intended to be enforceable while accommodating common, low-value tokens of appreciation that city employees regularly receive.
