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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Jessica L. Kalal, Assistant Corporation Counsel
DATE: February 12, 2020
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing department heads to enter into student internship agreements with local educational institutions for the purpose of hosting unpaid, volunteer student interns in City departments. Such agreements would be subject to review and approval by the Corporation Counsel.
PURPOSE:
Allowing department heads to enter into student internship agreements with local educational institutions without going through the formal City Council approval process for each separate agreement will allow the engagement process to move quicker and more efficiently, and gives the departments greater discretion in accepting student interns. This resolution only grants authority to enter into agreements for unpaid, volunteer student interns and therefore has no direct financial implications for the City.
BACKGROUND:
Currently there is no authority for a department head to enter into an internship agreement with an educational institution, which means these agreements would require formal City Council approval each time.
DISCUSSION:
This resolution will afford department heads discretion in managing their departments with respect to unpaid, volunteer student interns. The issue has arisen with several City departments as to whether they are authorized to agree to accept unpaid volunteer student interns in their departments without City Council approval. The Law Department has been and will continue to be involved in reviewing these agreements.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Since the authorization granted by the proposed Resolution is only for unpaid, volunteer student interns, there is no financial impact on the City. The positive impact is that the various City departments will have more discretion to accept student interns while still being required to obtain review and approval of any agreements from the Law Department.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request approval of the attached resolution.
cc: Rules, Administration, and Procedure Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing department heads to enter into student internship agreements with local educational institutions for the purpose of accepting unpaid, volunteer student interns, subject to review and approval by the Corporation Counsel and the Director of Human Resources.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on occasion the various City departments desire to accept unpaid, volunteer student interns from local educational institutions, which benefits both the City and local schools, as well as the community; and
WHEREAS, the departments are often presented with internship agreements which govern the acceptance of such unpaid, volunteer student interns, and of which can be efficiently reviewed and approved by the Corporation Counsel and the Director of Human Resources without the necessity of formal City Council authorization.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the City's department heads are hereby authorized to enter into student internship agreements for the purpose of accepting unpaid, volunteer student interns from local educational institutions, subject to review and approval by Corporation Counsel and the Director of Human Resources.