The welcome message from the Town Supervisor[2] reads as follows:
"Allow me to extend a personal welcome and congratulations on your appointment to a position with the Town of Esopus. As a member of our team, you take on an extremely important role: that of serving the people of the Town of Esopus. Together, our mission is to provide cost-effective services that conform to the highest standards of quality.
"This Employee Handbook is designed to familiarize you with your employment and to help ensure government compliance, foster positive employee relationships and contribute to the overall success of the Town in delivering services to the public effectively and efficiently.
"Please keep in mind that this is only an overview of the Town's policies and procedures, employee benefits and the Civil Service System. Specific questions concerning employment matters should be addressed to your department head.
"I trust that you will find service with the Town of Esopus rewarding, and I look forward to working with you."
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 32, Personnel Policies, adopted 9-13-1978, was repealed 4-16-1998 by L.L. No. 1-1998.
[2]
Editor's Note: The message was composed by Raymond Rice, the Town Supervisor at the time this local law was adopted.
A. 
The Town of Esopus has the distinction of bearing the name of the original colony settled by the Dutch in 1653 on the plains north of the Rondout Creek before it flows into the Hudson River. The area south of the Rondout, east to the Hudson, and extending south to the Klyne Esopus Creek (Black Creek) was called Klyne (little) Esopus. When this section separated from the Town of Kingston and formed its own unit of local government on April 5, 1811, the founders of the new Town named it the Town of Esopus.
B. 
After the turn of the century, Port Ewen gradually became the seat of the Town government and meetings for a number of years were held at the annex of the old Charles Card Drugstore (now the Port Ewen Pharmacy). On May 14, 1945, a public referendum was held to purchase the former Spinnenweber garage on the corner of Broadway and Salem Street, Port Ewen, for use as a Town Hall for the sum of $12,000. This building has been the seat of the Town of Esopus government ever since.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DEPARTMENT HEAD
Refers to the person in charge of any department, agency, bureau, unit or subdivision of the Town of Esopus. This definition will be applicable in the event such person is serving in an acting, temporary, or provisional status in the position of department head.
ELECTED OFFICIAL
Refers to any of the following full-time and part-time elected officials of the Town of Esopus:
A. 
Town Supervisor.
B. 
Town Board members.
C. 
Town Justices.
D. 
Town Clerk.
E. 
Highway Superintendent.
F. 
Tax Collector.
EMPLOYEE
A person employed by the Town, including, but not limited to, an appointed official, department head, managerial employee, confidential employee, supervisory employee, provisional employee, probationary employee, temporary employee, seasonal employee, trainee or student intern, but not an independent contractor.
SUPERVISOR
Refers to the individual so designated by the department head to direct and inspect the performance of employees.
TOWN BOARD
Refers to the Town Board of the Town of Esopus.
TOWN OF ESOPUS
The Town of Esopus may be referred to as the "Town."
TOWN SUPERVISOR
Refers to the Town Supervisor of the Town of Esopus.
The purpose of this Employee Handbook is to communicate the Town's personnel policies and practices to all employees and elected officials. It is extremely important that each employee understand the policies that relate to rules, regulations, procedures, practices, work standards, employment classifications, compensation and benefits.
The Town Board reserves the right to interpret, change, modify or eliminate any provision contained in this Employee Handbook. In addition, this Employee Handbook is subject to alteration by local law, changes in Town and/or departmental rules, changes in state or local Civil Service rules or federal, state or local legislation, rules or regulations. (This is not meant to be a comprehensive list.)
Any questions regarding any topic covered in this Employee Handbook should be directed to the appropriate department head.