A. Regular full-time employees hired on or after January 1, 1983, shall be granted vacation benefits in accordance with the following schedule as of anniversary dates falling on or after the dates indicated, provided they are compensated at least 70 percent of their standard work hours per pay cycle:

An additional day per year to a maximum of 30 days per year.

B. Effective January 1, 1982, employees who have earned and qualified for vacation leave that exceeds 30 days per year shall maintain the number of vacation days earned as of January 1, 1982. All other employees who are not qualified for 30 days as of January 1, 1983, shall maintain the number of vacation days earned as of January 3, 1983, then earn an additional day of vacation at the completion of every other year to a maximum of 30 days per year or until they are entitled to additional vacation day accrual as set forth in the schedule in subsection A of this Section.

C. The County Executive may authorize the accrual of vacation benefits in excess of the initial accrual rate in subsection A above when such exception is based upon an applicant's possession of extraordinary qualifications or is required for recruitment purposes and if necessary to attract and hire highly qualified employees. Employees hired at a higher accrued rate shall be considered to be hired with the minimum eligibility and shall be eligible to advance to the next higher accrual level when they have been employed for the number of years required by subsection 3.72.010 A. By example, if hired at the 16-day accrual level, the employee would be eligible to move to the next higher accrual rate after four years of service. Such employees may not use vacation leave until they have completed 13 accruable pay cycles.