An employee who has acquired permanent status may be disciplined by the department head in accordance with this chapter by any of the following actions, which are stated in order of severity, for causes stated in this section, and no employee shall be suspended or dismissed without the approval of the department head. Appeal may be made to the Township Committee.
A. 
Informal, verbal reproof.
B. 
Written reproof.
C. 
Suspension from duty.
D. 
Dismissal.
The causes for which disciplinary action may be invoked shall be as follows:
A. 
Neglect of duty.
B. 
Absence without leave or failure to report after authorized leave has expired, or after such leave has been disapproved or revoked. Any employee who shall be absent from duty without just cause for a term of five days continuously and without leave of absence shall, at the expiration of the five days, cease to be an employee of the Township.
C. 
Incompetency or inefficiency or incapacity due to mental or physical disability.
D. 
Insubordination or serious breach of discipline.
E. 
Intoxication while on duty.
F. 
Commission of a criminal act.
G. 
Disobedience of a rule or regulation of the Township.
H. 
Conduct unbecoming a public employee.
I. 
Leaving post without notice.
J. 
Negligence in the use of or unauthorized use of Township equipment.
K. 
Falsifying important records.
Any employee disciplined under the provisions of this article shall upon request be granted a hearing before the Township Committee. A reasonable opportunity for such hearing shall be granted before the imposition of disciplinary action, except that an employee may be summarily suspended if it is deemed that the circumstances so warrant. In such case, if after hearing it appears that the suspension was not proper, the Township Committee may order reinstatement with pay.