An employee who has acquired permanent status
may be disciplined by the department head in accordance with this
chapter by any of the following actions, which are stated in order
of severity, for causes stated in this section, and no employee shall
be suspended or dismissed without the approval of the department head.
Appeal may be made to the Township Committee.
A. Informal, verbal reproof.
The causes for which disciplinary action may
be invoked shall be as follows:
B. Absence without leave or failure to report after authorized
leave has expired, or after such leave has been disapproved or revoked.
Any employee who shall be absent from duty without just cause for
a term of five days continuously and without leave of absence shall,
at the expiration of the five days, cease to be an employee of the
Township.
C. Incompetency or inefficiency or incapacity due to
mental or physical disability.
D. Insubordination or serious breach of discipline.
E. Intoxication while on duty.
F. Commission of a criminal act.
G. Disobedience of a rule or regulation of the Township.
H. Conduct unbecoming a public employee.
I. Leaving post without notice.
J. Negligence in the use of or unauthorized use of Township
equipment.
K. Falsifying important records.
Any employee disciplined under the provisions
of this article shall upon request be granted a hearing before the
Township Committee. A reasonable opportunity for such hearing shall
be granted before the imposition of disciplinary action, except that
an employee may be summarily suspended if it is deemed that the circumstances
so warrant. In such case, if after hearing it appears that the suspension
was not proper, the Township Committee may order reinstatement with
pay.