Employee separations generally fall into one of the categories identified below.
An employee may resign from the Town service in good standing by submitting notice of resignation in writing, including the effective date of resignation, to his or her department head at least 14 calendar days in advance. Administration may permit a shorter period of notice because of extenuating circumstances. Department heads and exempt personnel are encouraged to give as much advance notice as practicable. Resignation must be accepted by the appointing authority.
When a position must be discontinued or abolished because of a change in duties, reorganization, lack of work, or lack of funds, the Town will:
A. 
Make lay-off determinations to ensure that the employees retained are the best qualified for the positions that remain.
B. 
Provide reasonable notice to affected employees.
C. 
Engage in impasse bargaining when required.
D. 
Maintain a recall list to permit employees to be considered for vacancies for up to one year from lay-off.
A discharge occurs when an employee is involuntarily separated from employment due to misconduct, inability to perform essential functions of the job, or any other lawful reason articulated by Administration.
Nonrenewal is separation from Town employment through the mechanism of Town management's decision not to continue a contract or other employment relationship past its previously established term. In the case of appointed employees, an appointee's employment ends at the expiration of his/her term unless s/he is reappointed for an additional term. The Town Administrator, Selectboard, or other appointing authority authorized by the Town's General Bylaws, has the discretion to determine whether or not to appoint or reappoint such individual. Nonrenewal does not necessarily imply any misconduct or fault on the part of the employee who is not renewed.
Town management may interpret an employee's absence without leave as abandonment of the position by the employee. Subject to its specific circumstances and the provisions of this Manual, this absence may be grounds for separation from employment.
A. 
At the time of separation, all records, assets, or other items of Town property in the employee's custody shall be transferred to his/her department head. In the event of a shortage in the above, an amount representing the value of unreturned property shall be calculated and collected through appropriate action, including deducting said amount from the employee's final paycheck.
B. 
All information regarding separating employees must be forwarded promptly to Human Resources including signed letters of resignation.
Employees who separate from the Town service in good standing shall receive payment for all earned salary and accumulated vacation leave subject to normal deductions and any indebtedness. The Hampshire County Retirement Plan administrators will be notified if the employee is a member.
The Town pays the cost established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide unemployment compensation for its employees. For more information contact Human Resources.