A Policy Manual, referred to as the "Town of Newton Personnel
Policies and Procedures Manual and Employee Handbook" ("Handbook")
of the Town of Newton has been generated as a guide for employees,
volunteers, and elected officials of the Town of Newton. The Handbook
is subject to amendments, changes, interpretations, and supplementations
by the Mayor and Council, as shall be made in the best interests of
all concerned. Changes to said Handbook will be forwarded to all applicable
parties upon adoption by the Council. The administration of the Handbook
is the responsibility of the Town Manager and Department Heads. In
all sections that are in conflict with union contracts, the union
contracts shall take precedence and be binding upon the union members
and the conflicting sections shall be inapplicable for the affected
union members. The purpose of the Handbook shall be:
A. To provide all employees with the proper supervision, instructions,
and the best possible working conditions, so they may render the best
possible service.
B. To make the best possible use of employees' skill and abilities.
C. To consider qualified Town employees first when there is an opportunity
for advancement, in accordance with New Jersey Civil Service Commission
policies and procedures.
D. To treat every employee with respect and consideration.
E. To expect all employees to consistently perform to the best of their
ability in the areas of: job knowledge, fiscal responsibility, communication,
productivity, teamwork, dependability, accountability, leadership,
creativity, and customer service, while conducting themselves appropriately
and treating others with courtesy and respect.
F. To impress upon all employees that, at all times, they are serving
the taxpayers and citizens of the Town of Newton and must therefore
provide exceptional customer service, both internally and externally.
All personnel shall be paid biweekly on Thursdays, or the closest
day thereto, if said payday falls on a holiday. All payments shall
be made by direct deposit or check, accompanied by a check stub which
shows detailed deductions from employee wages.
The Town Manager may grant an employee a leave of absence without
pay for a period of up to 30 calendar days. The Town Manager and Town
Council must both approve a leave of absence for any longer period
of time. A leave of absence longer than 12 months must be approved
by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The appropriate leave
request form may be found in the Handbook.
All full-time employees may take up to three personal days each
calendar year based on their normal workday hours not to exceed 10
hours per day. These days will be charged against accumulated sick
leave. They cannot be accumulated year to year; however, any unused
personal hours may be carried over into sick leave not to exceed three
days. These three personal days are considered a part of an employee's
accumulated sick leave, not in addition to same.
The Town Council has adopted a "Cafeteria Plan" within the meaning
of Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which
shall be known as the Town of Newton Employees' Cafeteria Plan."
The benefits which an employee elects to receive under the plan will
be includable or excludable from the employee's income under
Section 125(a) and other applicable sections of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.