Town of Cumberland, RI Departments and Executive Staff

[1]

Editor’s Note: Former §§ 2-51 through 2-73, as amended, which contained various provisions pertaining to the officers and employees of the Town of Cumberland, were repealed 11-6-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28 and 12-4-2019 by Ord. No. 19-29.

[Added 11-6-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28; as amended 1-19-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01A; 6-15-2022 by Ord. No. 22-18A; 2-1-2023 by Ord. No. 22-30; 2-1-2023 by Ord. No. 23-01;[1] 1-3-2024 by Ord. No. 23-29]

(a)

Departments and positions created.

(1)

There is hereby created and established the Office of the Mayor to be headed by the Mayor.

Within the Office of the Mayor, there is hereby created and established the positions of Chief of Staff, Community Outreach Coordinator, Information Technology Manager, and ADA Coordinator.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Mayor.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(2)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Finance to be headed by the Finance Director.

The Finance Director also serves as the Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, Town Controller and Purchasing Agent.

Within the Department of Finance, there is hereby created and established the positions of Senior Accountant, Payroll Administrator, Tax Collection Coordinator, Deputy Finance Director, and Internal Auditor.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Finance Director.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(3)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Planning and Community Development to be headed by the Director of Planning and Community Development.

Within the Department of Planning and Community Development, there are hereby created and established the positions of Town Planner and Special Projects Planner.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Director of Planning and Community Development.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(4)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Human Resources to be headed by the Director of Human Resources.

Within the Department of Human Resources, there is hereby created and established the position of Confidential Assistant to the Director of Human Resources.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Mayor.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(5)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Inspections to be headed by the Building Official.

The Building Official also serves as the Zoning Official and the Minimum Housing Inspector.

Within the Department of Inspections, there is hereby created and established the positions of Building Inspector(s), Electrical Inspector(s), Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector(s), and Zoning Inspector(s).

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Building Official/Minimum Housing Inspector.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(6)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Public Works to be headed by the Director of Public Works.

Within the Department of Public Works, there is hereby created and established the positions of Superintendent of Public Works, Assistant Engineer, Recycling Coordinator, and Tree Warden.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Director of Public Works.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(7)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Senior Services to be headed by the Director of Senior Services.

Within the Department of Senior Services, there is hereby created and established the positions of Senior Services Social Director and Senior Center Services Assistant.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Director of Senior Services.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(8)

There is hereby created and established the Office of the Solicitor to be headed by the Town Solicitor.

Within the Office of the Solicitor, there is hereby created and established the positions of Assistant Town Solicitor and Confidential Legal Assistant to the Solicitor.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Town Solicitor.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(9)

There is hereby created and established the Mayor's Office of Children, Youth and Learning (OCYL) to be headed by the Director of the Office of Children, Youth and Learning.

Within the Mayor's Office of Children, Youth and Learning, there is hereby created and established the positions of K-12 Programs Coordinator, Early Childhood Education Coordinator, Registrar, Marketing Assistant, and Finance/Human Resources Assistant.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Director of the Office of Children, Youth and Learning.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(10)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Recreation to be headed by the Director of Recreation.

The job description for this position will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Director of Recreation.

The person to fill the position created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(11)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Tax Assessor to be headed by the Tax Assessor.

Within the Department of Tax Assessor, there is hereby created and established the position of Deputy Tax Assessor.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Tax Assessor.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(12)

There is hereby created and established the Office of the Town Clerk to be headed by the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk also serves as the Clerk of the Town Council, Clerk of the Probate Court, Clerk of the Board of Canvassers, and the Recorder of Deeds.

Within the Office of Town Clerk, there is hereby created and established the positions of Deputy Town Clerk and Municipal Court Clerk.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Town Clerk.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(13)

There is hereby created and established the Probate Court to be headed by the Probate Court Judge.

The job descriptions for this position will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Probate Court Judge.

The person to fill the position created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(14)

There is hereby created and established the Municipal Court to be headed by the Municipal Court Judge.

The job descriptions for this position will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Municipal Court Judge.

The person to fill the position created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(15)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Water to be headed by the Water Superintendent.

Within the Department of Water, there is hereby created and established the positions of Assistant Water Superintendent and Administrative Assistant to the Water Superintendent.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Water Superintendent.

The person to fill each of the positions created in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor, unless a contract is established and approved by the Town Council.

(16)

There is hereby created and established the Cumberland Police Department to be headed by the Chief of Police.

The Chief of Police will also serve as the Director of the Cumberland Emergency Management Agency (CEMA).

Within the Police Department, there is hereby created the positions of three Captains and one Deputy Chief of Police. The Deputy Chief of Police and Captains shall be chosen from within the ranks of the Police Department subject to all existing requirements relating to eligibility for promotion to said rank as presently set forth in Article IV, § 3(A)(1) of the collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Cumberland Local 640 (the "union").

Within the Police Department. there is hereby created the position of Police Recruit/Trainee. which shall be appointed by the Chief of Police after successful completion of the Cumberland Police Department's Recruitment Plan.

Within the Cumberland Police Department, there is hereby created and established the positions of Administrator of Communications within the Police Department, Confidential Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police, Assistant to the CEMA Director, Animal Control Officer, and Assistant Animal Control Officer.

The Deputy Chief of Police and Captains, upon their appointments, shall no longer be members of the union but shall be entitled at a minimum to any and all wage increases and fringe benefits as provided in the collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the union, including, but not limited to, the provisions of Articles VI, VII, VIII, IX and XII.

The positions of Deputy Chief of Police and Captains shall be subject to all of the provisions of Article XIV, § 4, of the collective bargaining agreement as said section relates to retirement.

The Deputy Chief of Police and Captains shall not be removed except for cause after a hearing thereon to be conducted in accordance with state law, the Cumberland Town Charter and any applicable Town ordinance.

Should this section be amended in any manner so as to adversely affect the rights of Captains as set forth in Subsection (a)(16)b, d, e and f of this section, all police officers holding the rank of captain shall immediately become members of the union upon the effective date of said amendment and shall be entitled to all of the rights afforded union members under the then-existing collective bargaining agreement.

The job descriptions for each of these positions will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Chief of Police.

(17)

There is hereby created and established the Department of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to be headed by the Chief of Emergency Medical Services.

Within the Cumberland Department of Emergency Medical Services, there is hereby created the position of Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services.

The job descriptions for this position will be maintained by the Director of Human Resources and updated as necessary in collaboration with the Chief of Emergency Medical Services.

The person to fill this position in this section shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, and shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Mayor.

(b)

Executive staff positions created and established shall be filled at the discretion of the Mayor with the approval of the Town Council.

(c)

Increases in salaries for executive staff shall be approved by the Town Council by ordinance.

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also changed the title of this article from "Officers and Employees" to "Departments and Executive Staff."

[Added 12-4-2019 by Ord. No. 19-29]

(a)

Purpose.

(1)

The Town of Cumberland Employee Handbook contains many of the policies and procedures individuals are expected to follow as an employee of the Town of Cumberland. The Town has developed this handbook to provide general information to its employees regarding topics that commonly arise during a person's employment.

(2)

This handbook sets forth the Town's expectations for employees; second, the handbook is meant to educate employees on what they can expect from the Town in their employment relationship. The overall intent is to assure fair, equitable, and open relations between employees and the Town.

(3)

The Town expects its employees, when dealing with the public during the course of their employment, to respond to the public as the situation would dictate in a manner which upholds the public image and traditions of the Town. Through this cooperative and collaborative relationship between all employees, the reputation and traditions of the Town for providing quality services will continue to be achieved.

(b)

Interpretation; implementation.

(1)

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, final interpretation and implementation of the policies contained in this handbook are vested solely with the Town of Cumberland through the Mayor. The handbook is subject to change at any time and will be reviewed and revised periodically.

(2)

Human Resources policies clarify the behavior expected of employees. The Employee Handbook may not, however, contain all the procedures and regulations which may be applicable to a position with the Town of Cumberland. More detailed departmental regulations may be adopted which are not inconsistent with these policies.

(3)

To the extent this handbook conflicts with specific language in applicable collective bargaining agreements covering certain employees, the specific language of the collective bargaining agreement shall control over the language of the handbook when required.

(c)

Adoption. The Employee Handbook is hereby adopted by the Town of Cumberland; the original and all amendments shall be kept and maintained by the Director of Human Resources.

(d)

Amendments.

(1)

The following sections of the Employee Handbook shall be modified only by ordinance:

VIII Paid Holidays, Paid Time Off and Leaves of Absence.
A.	Paid Holidays.
B.	Paid Time Off.
C.	Accural of Paid Time Off.
G.	Bereavement.
H.	Jury Duty.
IX Employee Benefits.
A.	Health and Dental Insurance.
B.	Life Insurance.
D.	Pension and Retirement.
X Pay Policies.
B.	Reimbursable Expenses.
XI Use of Town Property.
A.	Town Vehicles.
B.	Town Cell Phones.
D.	Cell Phone/Mileage Stipends.
XVI Ending Employment.
B.	Severance.

(2)

The sections of the handbook not listed above may be amended by the Mayor to further promote efficiencies and conduct in the day-to-day business of the Town, or to reflect changes in federal or state law. Any such amendments shall be reported to the Town Council at its next regular meeting.

[1]

Editor's Note: The Employee Handbook is on file in the Town offices.