It is the policy of the Town to provide a just procedure for the presentation, consideration, and disposition of employee grievances. The purpose of this article is to outline the procedure and to ensure all employees that a response to their grievance will be prompt and fair.
A grievance shall be any disagreement or dispute arising from the application, meaning or interpretation of the conditions, policies and procedures set forth in these personnel rules.
The purposes of the grievance procedure include but are not limited to the following:
A. 
Providing employees with a procedure by which their grievances can be considered promptly and fairly;
B. 
Encouraging employees to express themselves about the conditions of work which affect them as employees;
C. 
Promoting better understanding of the policies, practices and procedures which affect employees;
D. 
Increasing the confidence that employees have that personnel actions are taken in accordance with established fair and uniform policies and procedures; and
E. 
Increasing the sense of responsibility which supervisors exercise in dealing with their employees.
A. 
When an employee has a grievance, the following successive steps are to be taken. The number of days for each step should be considered the maximum number of working days unless otherwise provided, and every effort should be made to expedite the process. Time limits at any step, however, may be extended by mutual consent. All documents used in this procedure must be dated and signed by the respondent and recipient.
B. 
The procedure for presentation, consideration and disposition of employee grievances is as follows:
(1) 
Step 1. An employee with a grievance concerning rules defined by this personnel policy shall present the matter to his/her immediate supervisor within 10 days of its occurrence with the objective of resolving the matter informally. The employee may present his/her grievance either orally or in writing. The supervisor shall then attempt to adjust the matter and give the employee an answer, either orally or in writing, no later than three working days after the grievance is presented. The grievance and answer shall be reported to the supervisor's immediate superior.
(2) 
Step 2. If the grievance is not resolved at Step 1 above, the employee may present the grievance to the head of his/her department within five working days after the supervisor's answer is given or due. The department head shall confer with the employee about the grievance within three working days after the grievance is presented and shall render a written decision within three working days after the conference is held.
(3) 
Step 3. If the grievance is not resolved in Step 2 above, the employee may present the written grievance to the Town Manager or an appropriate Town official within five working days after the department head's decision is rendered or due. The Town Manager or an appropriate Town official shall confer with the employee and department head about the grievance within five working days after the grievance is presented and shall submit his/her written decision to the employee within 10 working days after the conference is held.
C. 
Appeals.
(1) 
The Town Council shall sit as a Board of Appeal for the protection of Town employees at those times when the majority of all the Town Council is agreed that a review of the action of the Town Manager would be in the best interest of the Town of Georgetown. The decision of the Town Council in such case shall be final and conclusive.
(2) 
If a grievance is not appealed to the next step within the specified time limit or any agreed extension thereof, it shall be considered settled on the basis of the Town's last answer. If the Town does not provide a written response to the grievance or appeal thereof within the specified time limits, the grievant may elect to treat the grievance as denied at that step and immediately appeal the grievance to the next step in accordance with the procedure set forth.
D. 
This entire grievance procedure is subject to employee labor agreements, when applicable.