The purpose of this Personnel Chapter is to
establish a system of personnel administration based on merit principles
that ensures a uniform, fair and efficient application of personnel
policies. The intent of this chapter is to provide a method of recruitment,
selection and development of a work force that is skilled and effective
in accomplishing the service delivery missions of the Town. Personnel
actions are to be made without regard to sex, race, religion, color,
age as defined by law, handicap, sexual orientation, political affiliation
or other non-job related factor, and shall be based on merit and fitness.
The Personnel Bylaw is adopted pursuant to the
authority granted by Article LXXXIX of the Constitution of the Commonwealth
and MGL c. 41, §§ 108A and 108C.
All Town departments and positions shall be
subject to the provisions of this chapter and any regulations adopted
pursuant to this chapter, excluding elected officers of the Town of
Dover. To the extent that any collective bargaining agreement conflicts
with any provision of this chapter with respect to employees covered
under such labor agreements, the provisions of the collective bargaining
agreement shall prevail.
This personnel chapter and the regulations adopted
pursuant to its provisions are intended to supersede any other previously
adopted Personnel Bylaw or other regulations or policies.
A personnel system shall be established by the adoption of rules and regulations pursuant to §
44-7. The personnel system may include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
A. A method of administration;
B. A method of recruiting and selecting employees;
E. A centralized record keeping system;
F. Personnel rules and regulations which indicate the
rights and obligations of employees;
H. And other elements that are deemed necessary.
Personnel rules and regulations defining the
rights, benefits and obligations of employees subject to this chapter
shall be adopted or amended as follows:
A. Preparation of rules and regulations.
(1) The Personnel Board shall prepare proposed personnel
rules and regulations. Any member of the Board of Selectmen, the Personnel
Board, any appointing authority or any 2 or more employees may suggest
rules and regulations for consideration by the Personnel Board. The
Personnel Board need not consider any proposal already considered
by the Board in the preceding 6 months.
(2) Any person suggesting new or amended rules and regulations
shall provide the substance and reason for the rule or regulation
change in writing.
B. Public meeting. The Personnel Board shall hold a public
meeting on suggested rules and regulations. Any suggested rules and
regulations or amendments to rules and regulations shall be posted
in a prominent work location at least 5 business days prior to the
public meeting at which such suggestions are to be considered. The
Personnel Board shall submit a copy of any suggested rules or regulations
to the Board of Selectmen.
C. Personnel Board action on suggested rules and regulations.
Within a reasonable period of time after the public meeting on any
suggested rule or regulation, the Personnel Board shall vote to determine
if the suggested rules or regulations shall be recommended for adoption
by the Board of Selectmen.
D. Action by the Board of Selectmen. The Personnel Board
shall transmit any recommendations for the adoption of personnel rules
and regulations or amendments in writing, including the text of any
proposed rules and regulations, to the Board of Selectmen. The Board
of Selectmen shall consider the recommendations of the Personnel Board
and may adopt or reject the recommendations; provided, however, that
if the Board of Selectmen fails to act, recommended rules and regulations
shall be deemed adopted upon the expiration of 45 days from the date
of transmittal of the recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
E. Posting of rules and regulations. The Board of Selectmen
shall cause the posting of the text of adopted rules and regulations
in prominent work locations.
F. Official record. The Town Clerk shall maintain a compilation
of all personnel rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Selectmen.
The provisions of this chapter and any regulations
adopted pursuant to this chapter are severable. If any chapter provision
or regulation is held invalid, the remaining provisions of the chapter
or regulations shall not be affected thereby.
Initial appointments of the Personnel Board
shall be made in the following manner: the Board of Selectmen shall
appoint 1 member to serve a term of 3 years, 1 member to serve a term
of 2 years and 1 member to serve a term of 1 year; the Town Moderator
shall appoint 1 member to serve a term of 3 years; the Warrant Committee
shall appoint 1 member to serve a term of 2 years; and thereafter,
as terms expire, members shall be appointed for terms of 3 years each.
Initial appointment shall be made prior to September 15, 1990, and
such appointments shall become effective on said September 15.