Borough of Dunellen, NJ Public Works, Department of

The Department of Public Works of the Borough of Dunellen, as hereby established, shall consist of a Superintendent of Public Works and a sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic. They shall be residents of the Borough of Dunellen and shall be appointed by the Mayor by and with the consent of the Borough Council. They shall hold office until the first day of January next succeeding their appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The same shall also apply to such other employees as may, from time to time, be authorized by resolution of the Borough Council.

§ 62-3 Rules and regulations governing Department.

The Department of Public Works, as hereby established, shall be subject to the rules and regulations and resolutions adopted from time to time by the Mayor and Council. It shall have charge of the streets, highways and public places in the Borough, the repair and maintenance of the trunk sewers and pumping stations, all other public works instituted or conducted or under the control of the Mayor and Council and such other matters as may, from time to time, be referred to it by the Mayor and Council.

§ 62-4 Responsibility of Superintendent.

[Amended 2-5-1962]

The Superintendent of Public Works, subject to the rules and regulations adopted from time to time by the Mayor and Council, shall have charge of and be responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of streets, highways, parks and playgrounds, and the sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic shall have charge of and be responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of trunk sewers and pumping stations, all other public works instituted or conducted by or under the control of the Mayor and Council and all other matters, works or services as may be referred to them or required of them by the Mayor and Council. The sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic shall be under the supervision of the Superintendent of Public Works.

§ 62-5 Full-time employees.

[Amended 2-5-1962]

The Superintendent of Public Works and the sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic shall both be full-time employees.

§ 62-6 Salaries and compensation.

The Superintendent of Public Works, and the sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic shall receive such salary, wages and compensation as the Mayor and Council may, by ordinance, fix and determine.

§ 62-7 Reports to the Street and Sewer Committee.

[Amended 2-5-1962]

Unless otherwise directed by the Mayor and Council, the Superintendent of Public Works and the sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic shall report to and be subject to the orders of the Street and Sewer Committee of the Borough Council.

§ 62-8 Oath of office; bond.

[Amended 2-5-1962]

The Superintendent of Public Works and the sewer attendant and maintenance mechanic shall, before entering upon their duties, file oaths to faithfully perform all the duties of their offices to the best of their skill and ability. They shall furnish a surety company bond conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties, including the care, custody and use of any Borough moneys coming into their hands in accordance with the instructions of the Mayor and Council in the sum of $1,000. The premiums for such bond shall be paid by the Borough.

Article II Progressive Discipline System

[Adopted 6-26-2007 by Ord. No. 07-12]

§ 62-9 System to address violation of work rules.

The Borough of Dunellen will follow a progressive discipline Systems for all Department of Public Works employees for violations of the work rules set forth below. However, if the Borough deems an employee's misconduct to be sufficiently serious, the Borough may bypass this progressive discipline system and suspend or discharge employees immediately.

Violations of these work rules will be handled with the following progressive discipline system:

(1)

First offense — written warning.

(2)

Second offense — written warning or suspension.

(3)

Third offense — suspension or discharge.

(4)

Fourth offense — discharge.

When the Borough issues a written warning, a copy of the warning will be given to the employee, a copy put in the employee's personnel file, a copy given to the Council Liaison, and a copy given to the Mayor.

§ 62-10 Reporting to work.

All employees must be in uniform and ready to work at the start of their work day.

Employees must punch in at the start of the work day and punch out at the end of the work day.

Employees shall not mark or alter a time card. Moreover, an employee may not punch in or out for another employee.

The Department Supervisor will review lateness and absences each month. Habitual tardiness will be subject to progressive discipline. Habitual absences will be grounds for progressive discipline.

In the event an employee is unable to report to work, it is their responsibility to telephone their Supervisor at least one-half hour before the normal starting time each day an employee cannot report for work. If an employee is unable to report to work because of an emergency or hospitalization, the employee should have someone else call the Department Supervisor as soon as is reasonably possible. Failure to call in disrupts the Borough's work schedule and will result in progressive discipline. Failure to call in for two consecutive days is grounds for discharge.

§ 62-11 Driver's licenses.

All employees in the Department of Public Works (DPW) must maintain a valid New Jersey driver's license with a CDL. The Department Supervisor will verify the validity of such licenses approximately every six months. It is the employee's responsibility to notify their supervisor in the event the employee's license is lost or revoked.

§ 62-12 Accidents and Borough vehicles and equipment.

An employee who suffers an injury and/or accident in the course of their employment must notify their Supervisor immediately so that arrangements can be made for a medical examination and/or treatment. Injuries must be recorded on the proper forms that are provided by the Borough.

All accidents or damage to vehicles or equipment, regardless of how minor, must be reported to the Supervisor immediately after they occur:

Employees must not leave Borough property unattended or borrow Borough equipment without receiving permission from their Supervisor.

Employees shall not commit or engage in willful damage or neglect to vehicles/equipment, or materials or other Borough property. Restitution for damage or neglect shall be required of the employee responsible.

§ 62-13 Prohibited conduct which may lead to immediate dismissal.

Theft or vandalism.

Possessing or bringing alcoholic and/or chemical substances onto Borough property, including into Borough vehicles or reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Fighting on Borough property and/or committing an act of violence against any employee of the Borough.

Insubordination, including the refusal to obey a lawful instruction, or using insulting, violent, abusive, or threatening language to a Supervisor.

Dishonesty, such as, but not limited to, falsifying Borough records, giving false testimony or purposely misleading a superior.

Assault or possessing or using a dangerous weapon of any kind on Borough property or during the performance of any assigned job.

Gross negligence or poor work performance such as, but not limited to, the careless destruction or sabotage of Borough property or job performance in an inefficient manner.

Accepting any gratuity or other form of financial gain from any private citizen, whether a resident or any other person, during the performance of or in connection with the performance of work duties and responsibilities on behalf of the Borough.

Being convicted of a crime or incarceration.

§ 62-14 Prohibited conduct which will subject an employee to progressive discipline.

Stealing time, such as, but not limited to, sleeping on the job and leaving the assigned work areas without permission.

Gambling on the job.

Soliciting of any kind during working hours without permission of the Supervisor.

Creating or contributing to unsafe working conditions.

Using abusive or profane language to coworkers, other Borough employees or the public.

Being unavailable for work because of incarceration.

Refusing to cooperate in a lawful investigation except in cases of refusing to testify based upon the grounds of avoiding self incrimination.

Smoking in unauthorized areas.

Engaging in conduct unbecoming of a Borough employee in the public service.

Discriminating because of race, color, creed, national origin, age, marital status, or sex, such as, but not limited to, making demeaning ethnic remarks to coworkers or other Borough employees, or the public.

Violating the work rules or encouraging others to violate the work rules.

Not using or wearing required safety equipment or violating safety procedures.

Sexual harassment of or by Borough employees to coworkers, supervisors, or the public. Any abuses related to sexual harassment should be immediately reported to the Supervisor, Council Liaison, Borough Clerk or the Mayor.