A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish a policy and procedure for all phases of the hiring process.
B.
Statement of policy.
(1)
The Borough Administrator (or Administrator's designee) will administer and coordinate the hiring process for all position vacancies to ensure compliance with contractual, legal, and equal opportunity requirements. All hiring efforts are conducted in the spirit of equal opportunity. The Borough is an equal opportunity employer.
(2)
The following procedures will be adhered to by all departments in announcing position vacancies. In cases where these procedures contradict existing labor agreements, the applicable provisions of the labor agreements shall prevail.
C.
Recruitment.
(1)
The Mayor and Borough Council will be notified immediately of all position vacancies.
(2)
The affected department may be asked to assist the Borough Administrator, as necessary, in formulating the job announcement and ads, and in determining special applicant sources.
(3)
A determination will be made by the Borough Administrator, in cooperation with the department, whether to accept in-house candidate applications only or whether outside candidates will be considered for employment also.
(4)
The Borough Administrator (or Administrator's designee) will distribute to all Borough departments copies of the job announcement for posting for a minimum of seven calendar days. The Borough may use for job referral purposes only those recruitment services which do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, handicap, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, or other protected class or basis in making referrals.
(5)
Ads for local newspapers, trade publications, professional journals and/or on-line postings will be developed and placed by the Borough Administrator's Office with assistance provided by the affected department.
(6)
An application for employment obtained at the office of the Borough Administrator will be completed by all persons applying for positions within the Borough. The application is to be submitted to the Borough Administrator. If hired, the application shall remain a permanent part of the personnel record. When this is done, the Borough Administrator/department head must be notified in order that they can direct applicants to the proper department.
(7)
Whenever a vacancy exists in a department, consideration shall be first given to Borough employees. A notice of the position shall be posted in each Borough department for a period of seven days, absent other circumstances. After consideration of Borough employees, if no one is chosen, the position shall be advertised in the official Borough newspapers. The appropriate department head shall review all applications. Interviews shall be conducted by the department head and/or other Borough representatives.
(8)
Except in the case of department heads, the Borough Administrator shall advise the Council of the action taken. Department head applicants shall be interviewed by the Borough Administrator, who shall then make recommendations to the Council, where the final decision shall be made. All salaries shall be as per the current salary ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said ordinance is on file in the Borough offices.
(9)
The Borough Administrator will screen active application files for possible candidates. These candidates will be contacted to determine current interest in Borough employment prior to the closing date listed on the employment notice.
(10)
(Reserved)
(11)
All job applicants are required to complete a standard employment application form. The application has been prepared to conform with the Borough's equal employment opportunity policy.
(a)
The application requires the prospective employee to provide the following information:
[1]
General biographical information such as name, address, telephone number, social security number, date of availability, position desired and, where applicable, the required salary.
[2]
Education and/or other special training, provided that the position sought requires a particular level of education or training. If applicable, the information sought will include the last year of high school or college attended, the degree earned and the name and location of the educational institutions. If the position does not require a particular level of education or training, this inquiry may be deleted.
[3]
Work experience will be requested of the applicant, including names and addresses of most-recent employers, beginning and ending dates of employment, reasons for terminating their employment, and the positions held. In addition, and where applicable to particular job functions required of the position sought, it may be requested that job applicants respond to whether certain job functions can be performed and how they would perform certain job functions. Any and all other inquiries that may be included beyond the standard questions identified herein will comply with the guidelines issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and/or the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
(b)
Applicants must certify the truth of all statements made on the application and in the application process and acknowledge that failure to provide truthful and accurate information may result in withdrawal of an offer of employment or termination from employment.
(12)
Applications shall be submitted to the Borough Administrator using Borough employment application forms. The application is a confidential document and will not be available to anyone who is not directly involved in the hiring process, except as required by law.
(13)
No applications for a position are accepted after the published closing and/or receipt date. If there are not sufficient qualified candidates at the closing date, the position is reopened and readvertised.
(14)
The Borough Administrator will screen all applications received to determine qualification for the position to be filled. Applications of top candidates will be forwarded to the affected department for final review and comment prior to scheduling candidates for interviews.
(15)
Applicants may be disqualified for consideration for employment when any of the following facts exist:
(a)
They do not possess the qualifications for the job.
(b)
They have demonstrated an unsatisfactory employment record or personal record as evidenced by information contained on the application form or by the results of a reference check.
(c)
They have made false statements of any material facts or practiced deception in their application.
(d)
They are unable to perform the essential functions of the position.
(e)
The applicant is not within the legal age limits prescribed by law.
(f)
Any other legal basis which, in the discretion of the Borough, precludes further consideration.
D.
Interview process. The employment interview is a supplement to and part of the selection process. The primary function of the interview is to obtain data of certain knowledge, skills, and abilities of a candidate not available through review of resumes or other testing mechanisms. Certain guidelines will be observed to maximize the validity and reliability of the interview process as well as ensure the adherence to current EEOC and any other applicable legal requirements. The Borough of Glassboro is an equal opportunity employer committed to the selection of the most-qualified applicants regardless of a person's membership or status in any protected class.
(1)
The Borough Administrator and Borough Council shall coordinate the interview process, including selection, scheduling candidates, development of interview questions, etc.
(a)
The Borough will make reasonable accommodations to known physical and mental limitations of all applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the essential functions of the job, and also provided the accommodation does not impose an unreasonable hardship on the Borough.
(2)
The Borough Administrator and the department head of the department in which the position vacancy exists (the Mayor or an appropriate member of the governing body in vacancies involving department head openings) shall be involved with the development of interview questions and standards for measurement of candidate responses. Consistency will be maintained in the questions asked of all candidates. The questions must be job-related and based on the analysis described in Subsection C(11) above. Questions will be designed to measure job knowledge, experience, education, fitness for the position, and/or to solicit responses which reflect those personal traits which are job-related.
(3)
Legal age requirements.
(a)
While inquiries as to birth date and proof of age may be prohibited, statements which clarify hiring as subject to verification that the applicant meets legal age requirements are generally acceptable.
(4)
Inquiries as to an applicant's ability to read, write or speak foreign languages are permitted when such inquiries are based on job requirements.
(5)
Questions regarding the applicant's general state of health or receipt of workers' compensation are unacceptable.
(a)
Other general inquiries which tend to divulge disabilities, health conditions, or medical information are not permitted.
(6)
The Borough Administrator will inform the department head and/or Mayor of the responsibilities and requirements of the position to be staffed. Copies of the applications of final candidates will also be provided to the Borough personnel involved prior to the interview, along with proposed interview questions.
(7)
Following the interview, the Borough Administrator and department head or Mayor shall attempt to reach consensus and report the interview results and recommendations to the Council.
E.
(Reserved)
F.
Background checks and procedures for candidates, employees and volunteers.
(1)
Background checks required. Background checks are required of all candidates, whether for paid or volunteer positions, working directly or indirectly with children/youth/minors. Background checks will also be administered for each employee or volunteer that works directly or indirectly with children/youth/minors every three years. Such checks will be conducted in accordance with the procedures of the Borough's Manual on the Protection and Safe Treatment of Minors. A copy of the Manual is attached and available in the Administrator's office.
G.
Applicant notification.
(1)
After references are verified and a final decision reached, the Borough Administrator will notify the candidate of his/her selection, make an employment offer, and request that the offer be accepted or rejected within a set number of days. The employment offer must be made in a letter to the candidate outlining all terms and conditions of the offer. Every effort shall be made to offer reasonable accommodations to known physical and mental limitations of all applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the essential functions of the job, and also provided that the accommodation does not impose an unreasonable hardship on the Borough.
(2)
Some offers of employment are made conditional on an applicant passing a job-related physical examination. Additionally, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act,[2] after an offer of employment is made and prior to commencing employment, the Administrator may require applicants to pass a physical examination in order to ensure that they can perform the duties of their position without injury to themselves or others. The same post-offer physical examination must be performed on all applicants for a particular position. The Administrator may require periodic physical examinations to determine the employee's continued ability to perform the duties of the position. All physical examinations must be performed by a physician chosen by the Borough at the expense of the Borough. All medical records of employees and prospective employees are confidential and are to be maintained by the Borough separate from the employee's official personnel file. Medical exams may include tests for drug and alcohol use.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.
(3)
If the first offer is rejected, it will be decided whether to hire another candidate or to reopen the position.
(4)
Once a candidate accepts the employment offer, all other candidates will be notified, in writing, that they were not selected for the position.
H.
Appointment.
(1)
For all positions, an employment confirmation letter is forwarded to the final accepting candidate outlining the terms of employment. The letter is prepared and mailed by the Borough Administrator in cooperation with the affected department.
(2)
The appropriate forms will be prepared for the new employee by the Borough and, if necessary, presented to the new employee for completion.
(a)
After acceptance, but before starting employment, all new employees shall be required to fill out an employment verification form (I-9) and to provide acceptable proof of right to employment in the United States.
(3)
The administrative assistant to the Borough Administrator will check all papers and set up a personnel file for each employee (full-time and part-time).
(4)
All employees will serve a probationary period of one year, except as otherwise provided by any applicable collective bargaining agreement.
(5)
Driver's license.
(a)
All personnel who may drive a Borough vehicle at any time must have a valid driver's license.
(b)
The Borough Administrator or Assistant Borough Administrator will check every January and July to verify the status of the respective employee's driver's license. Anyone who has their license revoked must notify their supervisor immediately. In certain Borough positions, the securing of a CDL license may be a requirement for continued employment. The securing of the CDL shall be at the employee's expense. The Borough Council will determine which positions will require a CDL license.
I.
J.
Record retention.
(1)
All applications, notes made during interviews and reference checks, job offers and other documents created during hiring process must be returned to the Administrator. Documents related to the successful candidate will be placed in the employee's official personnel file, except medical records, including physical examinations, must be maintained in a separate file. All records and documents related to other candidates must be retained for at least one year. Records and documents created during the hiring process are confidential and must be retained in a locked cabinet.