§ 36.003 ABOUT THE HANDBOOK.
   (A)   The purpose of the city’s employee handbook is to establish a uniform system for managing personnel matters for all city employees. This handbook and the policies that it contains provide direction for employees in the performance of employment duties so that employees can successfully contribute to the fulfillment of the city’s mission.
   (B)   The policies contained in this handbook are designed to reinforce the core values of the city. The city believe that when an employee acts in a manner consistent with the city’s core values in employment activities, both the employee and the citizens the city serves will prosper.
   (C)   The city’s core values serve as the cultural foundation of the organization. They embody the spirit and collective conscience of the city and its employees. The city’s core values describe how the city fulfills the mission by representing the enduring ideals and principles that guide the city’s actions.
   (D)   The city employees believes the following.
      (1)   The commonwealth’s cities play an essential role in shaping the future of the commonwealth.
      (2)   Local decisions are best made at the local level.
      (3)   Exceptional services help the city function effectively and enhance the quality of life within the city.
      (4)   Building and cultivating relationships with other governments, businesses and individuals furthers the mission of the city.
   (E)   City employees embrace:
      (1)   Customer service based on attentive listening and measured by timely and appropriate responses;
      (2)   Credibility built on a commitment to high ethical standards, accountability, competence and nonpartisanship;
      (3)   Teamwork and continuous learning that drives improvement and innovation; and
      (4)   Caring and mutual respect that foster a supportive working environment.
   (F)   Regardless of one’s primary area of work concentration, one is foremost an employee of the city. While each city employee has different responsibilities, job duties and departmental assignments in the organizational structure, employees are expected to work as a team toward the common goal of advancing the interests of the city.
   (G)   We are pleased that you are part of the city family and hope you view your employment as an opportunity to help advance the community and thereby make it an even better place for future generations.