§ 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 councilmen as may be designated by the council and in counties such board shall consist of the chairman 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.