§ 88-a. Merit award board to reward employees for suggestions. 1. Any
city, county, town, village, school district or board of cooperative
educational services is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a
merit award board for the purpose of rewarding its employees for
suggestions which result in a more efficient and economical operation of
its government and may raise and expend moneys for the purposes thereof.

2. In cities such board shall consist of the mayor, corporation
counsel and such council members as may be designated by the council and
in counties such board shall consist of the chair of the board of
supervisors and such members thereof as shall be chosen by the board. In
towns such board shall consist of the town supervisor and such members
as the town council shall designate. In villages such board shall
consist of the mayor and members designated by the board of trustees. In
school districts, such board shall consist of the president of the board
of education and such members thereof as shall be chosen by the board of
education. In boards of cooperative educational services, such board
shall consist of the president of the board of cooperative educational
services and such members thereof as shall be chosen by the board of
cooperative educational services.

3. Such merit award boards when so established shall make rules and
regulations to provide for the rewarding of employees of the
municipality, school district or board of cooperative educational
services for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. Nothing herein contained shall in any way add to or diminish the
existing powers of the city of New York with reference to establishment
of a merit award board, and its powers.