The Town Council of South Berwick hereby adopts
the following personnel policy and rules for utilization by the Town
Manager and the Town Council in the administration of personnel activities
of employees of South Berwick.
The purpose of the Town Council in prescribing
these rules is to set forth a uniform and equitable system of personnel
administration for the Town of South Berwick, to promote more effective
and efficient municipal operations, and to pursue positive employee
morale. The hope of the Council is to provide each employee with a
written summary of work benefits and privileges, as well as responsibilities,
to better ensure that all employees are treated the same and to provide
a logical, workable method for employees to resolve any problems which
may arise from time to time.
Except as otherwise provided, these rules and
policies shall apply to all South Berwick employees. These rules shall
not apply to any matter covered by a collective bargaining agreement
between the Town and its organized employees, nor shall it apply to
employees covered under individual contracts. The fringe benefits
provided by the Town to employees shall apply to full-time employees
only, except as specifically provided herein.
A.
Ensuring the day-to-day administration of these rules
shall be the function of the Town Manager, working through each department
head to ensure familiarity with these rules as well as that of his/her
department staff.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Town Manager to:
(1)
Encourage and exercise leadership in the development
of sound personnel practices between the departments of the Town of
South Berwick.
(2)
Advise the Council on manpower utilization.
(3)
Foster and develop programs for the improvement of
employee effectiveness, including training, safety, health, counseling,
proper courtesy when dealing with the public and respect for municipal
property.
(4)
Ensure the establishment and maintenance of records
for all employees in the public service, in which there is set forth,
as to each employee, the class, title, pay or status, medical leave,
vacation time, and other relevant data.
(5)
Ensure that in each department these rules are administered
fairly and in conformity to the Town Charter and provisions of state
and federal statutes.
(6)
Issue various administrative procedures and take other
appropriate action to carry into effect the specific provisions of
these rules and policies.
(7)
Perform the duties of Equal Employment Opportunity
Officer or delegate these duties to an employee who shall be designated
as the Town's Equal Employment Opportunity Officer.
It is recognized that there may be a need to
establish and maintain departmental rules of conduct and procedures,
especially in the emergency services areas. In the case of conflict
between these rules and policies and those of a specific department,
these rules and policies shall be controlling unless the department
rules and any revisions have received Council approval. However, every
reasonable effort should be made to ensure maximum compatibility between
these and departmental rules.
The Council recognizes that, as with any undertaking,
it may be necessary to make adjustments in these rules from time to
time to make them work smoothly. All employees are therefore encouraged
to make note of any problems or difficulties which may require changes,
and bring them to the attention of a superior. The Town Manager shall
make recommendations to the Council for amendments as needed.
