All new police officers and civilian employees,
before this assignment to duty and prior to their promotion to higher
ranks, shall be required to take an oath of office as follows: "I
(name of police officer or employee) do solemnly swear or affirm that
I will support the constitution of the State of New Jersey and of
the United States, and that I will faithfully, impartially and justly
discharge the duties of (state rank or position) of the Township of
West Amwell according to the best of my ability."
Appointment of a police officer to the Police
Department is for a probationary period of one year after his/her
appointment after successful completion of a police training course
at an approved school. Upon graduation from said approved training
course and followed by satisfactory completion of 12 months of employment,
the police officer shall be deemed a permanent member of the West
Amwell Township Police Department, however, after successful completion
of the police academy, probation may be extended by the appropriate
authority. A fully trained officer will become a permanent member
of the West Amwell Township Police Department one year from the date
of hiring. Continuation in the service is dependent upon the conduct
of the appointee and his fitness to perform his duties. At the termination
of the probationary period, if the conduct or capacity of the probationer
has not been satisfactory, he shall be notified, in writing, that
he will not receive absolute appointment, and his services shall be
terminated without a trial by the Township Committee.
[Amended 12-19-1990 by Ord. No. 17-90]
Members and employees operating Department motor
vehicles shall possess a valid New Jersey license. Whenever a driver's
license is revoked, suspended or lost by a member of the Department,
he shall immediately notify the Township Committee, giving full particulars.
[Amended 12-19-1990 by Ord. No. 17-90]
Members and employees who have sustained injury
while off duty and who received salary from the Township while injured
shall notify the Township Committee, in writing, of any intent to
seek, sue, solicit or accept compensation as damage for such injury.
This notice shall be filed before any action is taken. It shall include
the facts of the claim and the name of the respondent.
Members and employees will be allowed time off
for bereavement leave, in accordance with the Salary Ordinance as
set forth therein.
[Amended 12-19-1990 by Ord. No. 17-90]
All resignations of members or employees must
be in writing and bear the signature of the person resigning. Members
or employees shall provide the Township Committee no less than two
weeks' written notice. A member or employee who resigns without giving
the required notice shall be held as having resigned not in good standing.
[Added 5-17-1990 by Ord. No. 5-90]
A. Grievance defined. A "grievance" is any complaint
or question arising between the employers and the employee or between
the employee and the Township Committee as to the meaning, application
or operation of the provisions of these rules and regulations or with
respect to wages, hours of work or other conditions of employment.
[Amended 12-19-1990 by Ord. No. 17-90]
B. Procedure. For the purpose of providing an orderly
method for handling and disposing of grievances, as defined, it is
hereby agreed that all such grievances shall be adjusted as follows:
(1) Step 1. The West Amwell Police Officer Representative
shall present the grievance, in writing, to the highest ranking officer
within five days after the employee knew or should have known of the
grievance, but in no event later than 30 days after the occurrence
of the facts giving rise to the grievance. The highest ranking officer
shall answer the grievance, in writing, within 10 days from the date
of presentation.
[Amended 12-19-1990 by Ord. No. 17-90]
(2) Step 2. If the grievance is not resolved at Step 1
or if no answer has been received, the West Amwell Township police
representative, within five days of receipt of the written response
or expiration of the time for said response, shall submit the written
Step 2 grievance to the Township Committee. This presentation shall
set forth the nature of the grievance involved, the applicable provisions
of these rules and regulations, if applicable, claimed to have been
violated and the position of the West Amwell Township police officers
with respect to the same. The Township Committee shall respond in
writing to the grievance within 30 days after receipt of the same.
(3) Step 3. If the grievance has not been satisfactorily
resolved in Step 2 or if no response has been received within the
time permitted, then no later than 10 days from the latter of the
two foregoing events, the West Amwell Township police officers and
only the West Amwell police officers may, as a last resort, refer
the matter to arbitration or fact-finding through the procedures of
the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) for selection of
an arbitrator.
(a)
The decision of the arbitrator shall be final
and binding upon the parties. The expense of such arbitration shall
be borne equally by the parties.
(b)
The arbitrator's decision shall be in writing
and shall be issued not later than 30 calendar days after the close
of the arbitration hearing. The decision shall set forth the arbitrator's
findings of fact, reasons and conclusions on the issue or issues submitted.
(c)
The arbitrator shall be bound by the provisions
of this agreement and shall be restricted to the application of the
facts presented in the grievance. The arbitrator shall not have the
authority to add to, modify, detract from or alter in any way the
provisions of this agreement or amendment or supplement thereto.
(d)
In cases involving back pay, the arbitrator
may award such back pay only to the date for which the grievance was
filed.
C. Extension of time limits. All of the time limits contained
in this section of the agreement may be extended by mutual consent.
Unless such time limits are extended by mutual consent, the failure
to observe the time limits herein stated for the presentation of the
grievance or submission of said grievance or right to arbitration
can be deemed a settlement thereof. All days referred to herein shall
be calendar days.