[Adopted 10-23-1990 (P-1B);
amended 2-20-2007]
A.
The
Kent County Administrative Complex Building is open for public use
in accordance with the following times and conditions:
(1)
Monday through Friday:
(a)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: open; full public access.
(b)
5:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight: limited access to designated offices
for authorized badge holders and to attendees of meetings held in
building; public must go directly to designated meeting room and promptly
leave upon conclusion of the meeting.
(c)
12:00 midnight to 8:00 a.m.: closed; no access except authorized
badge holders.
(d)
Buildings will be closed at 7:00 p.m. on the eve of Thanksgiving
Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and at 5:00 p.m. on the evening
of the Employee Dinner Dance.
(e)
Said hours will be automatically extended such time as is necessary
to accommodate the schedule of County government or advisory committee
meetings or as may be designated by Levy Court.
(2)
Saturday: open to the public for limited access to designated offices
for specific purposes, and authorized badge holders.
(3)
Saturday 5:00 p.m. to Monday 7:30 a.m.: closed; no access except
authorized badge holders.
(4)
Sunday: closed; no access except authorized badge holders.
(5)
Legal County holidays and special holidays: closed; no access except
authorized badge holders.
(a)
Kent County government buildings shall be closed in observance of legal holidays listed in Title 1, Chapter 5, § 501, of the Delaware Code and specific special holidays authorized by Levy Court, including emergency closings..
(b)
If any legal holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall
be the legal holiday (observed). If any legal holiday falls on a Sunday,
the following Monday shall be a legal holiday (observed). Any change
in the hours specified in this Policy will be posted on the front
door of the Kent County Administrative Complex building.
(c)
After-hours building access/entry badges for certain nonemployees
may be authorized by the Recorder of Deeds upon payment of a nonrefundable
fee of $65 per year per person. The Personnel Office will issue badges
to such authorized persons, including attorneys, surveyors, title
searchers, realtors, paralegals, and others who can demonstrate a
need for access to the Recorder of Deeds' office in the building after
the close of the normal business day.
[Amended 3-12-2013 (P13-01)]
B.
Upon
request of the family, the President of Levy Court or Levy Court by
a majority vote may authorize the use of the Kent County Administrative
Complex building to lie in state and/or for the funeral services of
such former elected County officials, certain dignitaries, and employees
who have distinguished themselves in service to Kent County.
C.
Fees
for use of conference rooms or other space in the Kent County Administrative
Complex Building may be established by Levy Court and for such amounts
as set from time to time by ordinance of the Levy Court. Whenever
deemed appropriate, such fees may be waived by the County Administrator
or by majority vote of the Levy Court. The Levy Court Chamber may
be authorized for use only by the state or other government-affiliated
entities.
[Adopted 7-10-1990 (P-24A);
amended 12-14-2010 (P10-07); 4-14-2020 by P20-02; 3-9-2021 by P21-01; 1-17-2023 by P23-01; 1-30-2024 by P24-02]
This Policy establishes procedures for the closing of County
offices.
A.
Closure,
late opening, and/or early dismissal due to inclement weather. The
Kent County Levy Court administrative complex will close when offices
of the State of Delaware (in Kent County) are closed by the Governor
due to inclement weather. This includes modifying operating schedules
such as opening late and dismissing early. While the intent of the
Levy Court is to follow closing, late opening, and early dismissal
decisions made by the state, employees are advised to rely on notices
issued by the Department of Public Safety through the employee notification
system.
B.
Closure,
late opening, and/or early dismissal due to exigent circumstances. The
County Administrator may modify, delay, or terminate the normal schedule
of operations of County government whenever circumstances dictate
that it is in the best interest of the government and/or the citizens
of the County to do so and if applicable, shall determine the time
period for such closing for payroll purposes. Exigent circumstances
include but are not limited to fire, flooding, loss of electrical
power, and/or hazardous conditions.
C.
Special
holidays. The President of the Levy Court, or the Vice President,
or a majority of the Levy Court shall have the authority to modify
or terminate the normal schedule of operations of County government
by declaring a special holiday(s) and close County buildings if it
is determined to be in the best interest of the government and/or
citizens to do so.
D.
Extended
closures. Whenever the normal schedule of operations is terminated/suspended
for one or more major buildings with County offices for five consecutive
working days or more, a special meeting shall be called by the President
of the Levy Court, or any two members of the Levy Court, as permitted
by law and pursuant to the adopted rules of procedures, to review
the circumstances and consider such procedures or processes required
to resume normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.
E.
Notice.
The County will use its website, email, and/or text message service
to notify employees of late openings, early dismissals, and closure.
The Department of Public Safety will be responsible for maintaining
and operating the notification system with the support of Human Resources.
Employees are responsible for providing up-to-date contact information
to Human Resources to ensure notifications are received. Notices about
closures or late openings generally will be sent as soon as possible.
F.
Designation
of employees. For the purpose of this policy, Levy Court employees
are divided into two broad categories: administrative and operational.
If an employee’s job is one of the mission critical services
provided by the Levy Court, the employee’s position may be designated
as operational. Designations shall be based on the recommendation
of the department head in consultation with the Director of Public
Safety and included in an employee’s job description.
G.
Operational
employees.
(1)
Operational
employees are not eligible for liberal leave and are required to report
for work for any scheduled shift unless they are specifically excused
by their supervisor. Operational employees are:
(2)
All County
personnel are subject to operational designation and must promptly
report to work to perform necessary duties at such location as directed.
If operational personnel are unable to report for work because of
transportation issues related to inclement weather, those employees
should contact their supervisor and/or the Emergency Operations Center
to request transportation. Human Resources will issue labels for the
ID badges of operational employees.
H.
Administrative
employees. Administrative employees are eligible for liberal leave
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this policy.
I.
Liberal
leave, definition. "Liberal leave" is a liberalization of existing
leave policies. Employees who are unable to transport themselves to
work due to inclement weather or who must remain at home, arrive late,
or leave early due to circumstances such as caring for children due
to a school delay or closing may use leave (annual or personal) without
prior authorization from a supervisor. When liberal leave is authorized,
liberal leave requests shall be granted to the extent possible.
J.
Liberal leave,
policy. Administrative employees are allowed to be absent for a portion
of a workday or the entire workday and are charged paid leave (i.e.,
annual or personal) or leave without pay, as appropriate, for the
period of the absence. Employees must notify their supervisors in
advance if they intend to take liberal leave. Employees may not use
sick leave for a liberal leave absence unless the absence meets the
criteria for sick leave.
K.
Liberal leave,
authorization.
(1)
In response
to inclement weather severe enough to warrant the delayed opening,
early dismissal, or closure of local schools but not of local, state
or federal offices in the area, a department head may authorize liberal
leave for administrative employees as defined by this Policy.
(2)
In response
to inclement weather severe enough to warrant the delayed opening,
early dismissal, or closure of state or federal offices in the area,
the County Administrator may authorize liberal leave for all administrative
employees. Department heads also may call in or hold over operational
employees depending on the needs of the Levy Court. Department heads
may call in administrative employees to serve as temporary operational
employees.
L.
Liberal leave,
other emergencies. Liberal leave is most often associated with weather
events although it is possible Kent County employees will be forced
to deal with other situations, including natural disasters, mass casualty
events, or other circumstances where curtailing routine operations
is in the best interest of the public, the Levy Court and its employees.
Any time a state of emergency is declared by the Levy Court Commissioners,
a liberal leave policy may be implemented.
M.
Late to work.
If inclement weather or another emergency causes an operational employee
to be late for work, the employee shall inform the supervisor or department
manager of the impending lateness and state the expected time of arrival
for work. Reasonable delay in arriving at work due to poor travel
conditions will not be a basis for charging vacation leave or docking
the employee's pay.
N.
Compensation
for time worked during closure.
(1)
Operational
employees who are required to report to work when the normal schedule
of operations of County government has been terminated shall be compensated
at their regular rate of pay, plus, at the employee's option, either
equal time off for those hours actually worked as hour-for-hour compensatory
time during the designated time period of closing or half pay for
those hours actually worked during the designated time period of closing.
No additional compensation shall be due for delayed opening or emergent
situations confined to some but not all buildings.
(2)
Operational
employees who work additional hours in addition to their normal shift
or work schedule due to the emergency are entitled to compensation
for those additional hours worked at their regular hourly rate plus,
at the employee's option, either equal time off for those additional
hours worked beyond their normal work schedule period as hour-for-hour
compensatory time or half pay for those additional hours worked beyond
their normal work schedule period.
(3)
Unless
the emergency or closing covers a day which is a legal holiday of
the County, the emergency day shall not be considered a holiday for
pay purposes. If any operational employee is required to work but
is specifically prevented by the police or other emergency personnel
from traveling to their work site due to a natural or man-made emergency,
and after notifying such emergency personnel of his or her operational
status, the operational employee shall immediately notify their supervisor
of the obstruction.
(4)
If the
operational employee’s attendance at work is critical to County
operations, the department manager shall contact the Emergency Operations
Center for pickup or if safe to do so, dispatch a coworker to do so.
If the employee’s service is not critical or pickup is not possible,
the absence shall be excused and not charged Before approving sick
leave during a declared emergency/offices closing, the department
manager shall require either a physician's certificate or a written
statement by the employee setting forth the reason for the absence.
Any employee, operational or administrative, who already is on annual
leave or sick leave during a declared emergency/offices closing, is
not affected by this Policy and their annual or sick leave will be
charged as if no emergency occurred.
(5)
Compensatory
time accrued during an emergency/building closing may be taken with
the approval of the department manager or paid out at the discretion
of the Personnel Director.
(6)
Compensation
for operational personnel/employees under this section shall not exceed
a maximum of 80 hours of equal time off or half pay for the duration
of the emergency/closure (or 84 hours for employees normally scheduled
for forty-two-hour workweeks).
[Adopted 2-14-1989 (P-25)]
A.
This
Policy is applicable to use of the Levy Court chambers and conference
rooms in the Kent County Administration Building by civic and/or nonprofit
organizations and other non-County government agencies.
B.
Any
organization or agency wishing to use the Levy Court Chambers and
conference rooms in the County Administration Building must schedule
it in advance with the Levy Court administrative staff and is subject
to the following conditions:
(1)
Conference rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served
basis.
(2)
The Levy Court Chambers will be available on a first-come, first-served
basis.
(3)
All organizations or agencies are responsible for leaving the room(s)
in the same condition they found it when they arrived. Furniture must
be returned to the normal seating arrangement after each use. If using
the room for more than one day, the room must be placed in order at
the end of each day.
(4)
Food and drinks will be allowed only upon prior approval by Levy
Court administrative staff, and the organization or agency is responsible
for removing any trash.
(5)
Cancellations must be reported to the Levy Court administrative staff
in a timely fashion.
(6)
Any organization or agency using the Levy Court Chambers accepts
full responsibility for any damage or loss of County property during
the time it is using County facilities.
D.
The
Levy Court reserves the right to refuse the use of the Levy Court
Chambers or any other County facility to any organization or agency
if it is in the best interest of the County.
E.
The
Kent County Administration Building is closed on all legal holidays.
[Adopted 6-13-2006, effective 6-13-2006]
This Policy establishes guidelines for the designation of names
for County buildings and rooms therein, parks, natural areas, structures,
etc. and the procedures to be used to honor an individual with the
attachment of his/her name to such facilities.
A.
Whenever a tangible County-owned asset such a park or building or
part thereof is to be a given a formal descriptive name, the Levy
Court shall do so by formal motion. Generally, the name(s) selected
should easily identify the use or purpose of the facility or its location.
B.
If a County-owned asset is proposed to be named for an individual
or group, a special committee composed of three citizens and two Levy
Court Commissioners appointed by the Levy Court President shall review
suggested and other potential honorees and make a recommendation to
the Levy Court for consideration. The County Administrator or designee
shall provide administrative support to the committee. The committee
shall serve without compensation.
C.
The Levy Court shall consider recommendations forwarded to it and
formally adopt a resolution bestowing the honor upon the individual
or group and arrange for ceremonious presentation of the signed resolution.
D.
A plaque, sign or other media recognizing the honor shall be appropriately
displayed at or in the facility. Where possible, the honoree and family
members shall be invited to any formal dedication ceremonies.
E.
The County Administrator shall develop appropriate forms and any
additional procedures necessary to effect the administration of this
Policy.
[Adopted 3-22-2016 (P16-01)]
A.
Smoking
and tobacco usage prohibited.
(1)
This
Policy establishes a prohibition on the act of smoking, vaping, the
usage of electronic cigarettes, and the usage of tobacco and/or tobacco
products at the Kent County Recreation Center building and associated
parkland property located at 1683 New Burton Road, Dover, Kent County,
Delaware. It is the expressed intention of this Policy to designate
the property located at 1683 New Burton Road as a "Smoke- and Tobacco-Free
Property." The County government may post signage at the referenced
property as it deems appropriate and necessary to publicly proclaim
this designation.
(2)
The
Kent County Recreation Center and associated lands are intended to
be utilized by people of all ages in the pursuit and enjoyment of
wellness, recreation and healthy lifestyles. Smoking, vaping, the
usage of electronic cigarettes and similar devices, and the usage
of tobacco and/or other related products at this property is and shall
be expressly prohibited.
