It is the purpose of this chapter to provide to department heads, supervisory personnel and employees the policies and procedures for assuring maintenance of an equitable personnel management system in the Town. The policies and procedures for personnel administration set forth herein have, as their purpose, to promote the efficiency and economy of government, to promote the morale and well-being of Town employees and to promote equal employment opportunity for all candidates.
The personnel policies of the Town are based on the following principles:
A. 
Recruiting, selecting and advancing employees on the basis of their relative abilities, knowledge and skills.
B. 
Providing equitable and adequate compensation.
C. 
Training employees as needed to assure high-quality performance and to promote career development.
D. 
Retaining employees on the basis of the adequacy of their performance, correcting inadequate performance and separating employees whose inadequate performance cannot be corrected.
E. 
Assuring that employees are not unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected classification.
[Amended 5-16-2016 ATM by Art. 31]
F. 
Assuring that employees are protected against coercion for partisan political purposes and are prohibited from using their official authority for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office.
[Amended 5-16-2016 ATM by Art. 31]
Unlawful discrimination against any person in recruitment, examination, appointment, training, promotion, retention or any other term or condition of employment because of political affiliation, race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, military status, gender identity or any other legally protected classification is prohibited.
The personnel policies contained in this chapter shall apply to all officers and employees, except exempt officials, as defined in Article III of this chapter. The policies are not intended to be all-inclusive. Final discretion as to interpretation and as to the appropriate course of action concerning a personnel matter shall rest with the Town Administrator.
A. 
State Civil Service Law and rules. Nothing contained in these personnel policies shall be construed to conflict with MGL c. 31 where civil service applies.
B. 
Other state statutes. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to conflict with any special law enacted for the Town of Easton or any permissive statute accepted by the Town of Easton or any provision of the State Constitution. To the extent that any apparent conflict exists, it shall be determined in favor of the higher state statute or provision of the State Constitution.
C. 
Home rule charter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to conflict with any provision of the Home Rule Charter of the Town of Easton. To the extent that any apparent conflict exists, it shall be determined in favor of the Charter.