3.16.020 Definitions.
Whenever in this program the following terms are used, they shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them in this section unless otherwise apparent from the context.
(1) Adoption/Implementation. A suggestion shall be considered to have been “adopted” when the new or revised procedures and/or methods it proposes are put into effect.
(2) “Award” means an instrument, either monetary or certificate, trophy, plaque, or other token that is given to an employee in recognition for a contribution deemed valuable to the County.
(3) “Certification of commendation” means a document commending an employee for submitting a suggestion which for some reason will not be implemented.
(4) “Certificate of award” means a document which accompanies an award commending an employee for submitting a suggestion which results in a tangible cost reduction or intangible improvement and which has been adopted and placed in operation.
(5) “ESP evaluation panel” means the Clallam County management team.
(6) “ESP coordinator” means the chairperson of the Clallam County management team.
(7) “Employee” means all persons employed in a County department who are eligible to submit suggestions, excluding the County administrator, department heads, or elected officials.
(8) Forms. When the term “suggestion form,” “evaluation form,” or any similar reference is used in these definitions, it shall refer to such document or documents as may from time to time be authorized and approved by the County.
(9) “Suggestion form” means the form to be used for submitting suggestions.
(10) “Tangible net savings” means the estimated first year net cost reduction resulting from the adoption and implementation of a suggestion, determined as provided herein and approved by the employee suggestion evaluation panel or recovery of revenue where there is no established County policy for reviewing fee schedules and revenue sources. In computing net cost reduction, the cost of placing the suggestion into effect shall be amortized over the expected life of the suggestion as determined by the employee suggestion evaluation panel.
(11) “Evaluation form” means the form to be used by the evaluation panel in reporting findings, conclusions concerning a submitted employee suggestion.
(12) “Joint suggestions” means a suggestion submitted over the signatures of two (2) or more employees who share equally in any award.
(13) “Intangible” means suggestions involving improvements in public service, working conditions, changes in procedures, revision of forms, health or safety, or related improvements for which the monetary values cannot be determined.
(14) “Suggestion” means a written proposal (on proper form) by an employee of the County that contains both the identification of a problem and solution or indicates to the evaluation panel ways:
(a) To do any job, system, or procedure better, quicker, easier, safer, and/or at less cost;
(b) To handle additional workload with the same staff and/or equipment;
(c) To produce a more efficient operation with better control; or
(d) Eliminates unnecessary procedures, records, or forms.
(15) “Topic expert” means an individual in an affected department assigned to preliminarily evaluate the feasibility of implementing an ESP suggestion in that department.