(1) Town employees will be reimbursed for reasonable and customary expenses actually incurred in connection with the business of the town, including food, lodging and travel expenses while away, excluding any expenses for alcoholic beverages. Lodging will only be reimbursed outside of Wahkiakum County, unless specifically preapproved by the mayor. Tips, not to exceed 15 percent, for meals, taxis, or baggage handling are reimbursable.

(2) Employee may also make request to make prearrangements for the mayor to authorize the town to submit payment directly for these services, provided the services that have been paid for by the town are fully met. If said payment is made by the town and the services paid for are not fully met, such as not obtaining or attending the services paid for, the employee shall reimburse the town for the full costs of said payment for services.

(3) The town is not required to furnish or compensate employees for apparel that an employer requires them to wear during working hours unless it is a uniform as defined in RCW 49.12.450 or personal protective equipment (PPE) required by Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA) to protect employees from workplace injuries and death. Replacement PPE will be paid for by the town, except when the employee has lost or intentionally damaged it. Employees will not be reimbursed for personal protective equipment that they supply and use in lieu of the town’s provided PPE. It is permissible to wear nonspecialty safety-toe shoes (such as steel-toe boots and steel-toe shoes) and nonspecialty prescription safety eyewear off the job site; therefore, they are not reimbursable.

(4) Requests for reimbursement, including all receipts, shall be submitted on an expense report form signed by the employee and the supervisor. (Ord. 666 § 3, 2022; Ord. 624 § 2, 2020; Ord. 518 § 2, 2009)