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.
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.