As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CAUSE
Includes dishonesty, inefficiency, chronic absenteeism, insubordination
and incompetence or inability to perform assigned duties.
EMPLOYEE
Persons hired and employed by the Town of Bethlehem on a
full-time basis. Excluded are all elected officials and persons appointed
by the Town to serve without compensation.
EMPLOYEE APPEALS BOARD
A three-member panel elected by the Town to serve a four-year
term. No member of the Board of Selectmen and no Town employee may
be a member of the Employee Appeals Board. Any vacancy shall be filled
by appointment by the Board of Selectmen to fill the unexpired term.
PERMANENT EMPLOYEE
An employee who has completed more than one year of continuous
service.
Each employee hired by the Town of Bethlehem shall be hired
for such duties and paid such compensation as the Board of Selectmen
shall describe.
Each employee shall serve a period of one year as a probationary
employee, during which time he may be discharged with or without cause.
No permanent employee shall be discharged by the Town except
for cause.
Any permanent employee discharged from employment by the Board
of Selectmen shall be entitled to make an appeal, within 10 days,
for a public hearing before an appeal board. The board may, within
five days, sustain the appeal, in which case the Town shall restore
the employee to the position he held before discharge, or the board
may, finding the discharge was for cause, deny the appeal.
Any employee discharged and subsequently reinstated under the
provisions of this article shall be paid his normal daily rate of
pay, per day, retroactive to the date of his discharge.
This article is to be retroactive for all current employees
to the date of their employment.