A. System Created; Scope: There is hereby adopted a merit system for the employees of the town, the provisions of which shall apply to all employees of the town except elected officials, officers of the town appointed by the council, persons engaged under contract to supply expert, professional or technical services, temporary employees and volunteer personnel who receive no regular compensation from the town. (1988 Code § 3-3-1)
B. Conditions Of Employment; Discrimination Prohibited: The appointment, promotion and tenure of every employee shall be conditioned solely on merit and fitness and the satisfactory performance of the duties and responsibilities assigned. No employee or applicant for employment shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, political affiliation, age, disability or national origin. (1988 Code § 3-3-2; amd. 2004 Code)
C. Political Contributions: No officer, official or employee of the town shall use any influence or pressure upon any employee to obtain any assessment or contribution of money or time, either direct or indirect, for any political campaign or personal gain. (1988 Code § 3-3-4)
D. Background Review:
1. The Council authorizes the Town Manager, or his/her designee, to (i) examine the criminal history information, including non-conviction information, concerning any current or prospective employee or volunteers and (ii) to require such current or prospective employee to submit a full set of fingerprints to the town police department for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check. The town police department shall submit the fingerprints to the Arizona Department of Public Safety pursuant to ARS 41-1750. DPS is authorized to exchange this fingerprint data with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, pursuant to Public Law (PL 92-544).
2. The Council authorizes the Town Manager, or his/her designee, to examine the criminal history information, including non-conviction information, concerning any incident which will involve any potential or actual liability, civil or criminal, on the part of the town or any incident which may give rise to a claim on behalf of the town, and may furnish said information to the appropriate insurance or legal personnel charged with the responsibility of processing of claims involving the town.
E. Transfer Of Benefits:
1. The town manager may, under the following circumstances, approve the transfer of vacation and/or sick leave benefits from one employee of the town to another employee of the town:
a. The donating employee has, in writing, requested and/or approved of the transfer.
b. Based upon the information made known to the town manager at the time said application is received, the town manager concludes that such a transfer is reasonable in the premise and will not impair the effective delivery of municipal services by the town.
2. Upon approval of the transfer of vacation and/or sick leave benefits by the town manager, the hours donated by the transferring employee shall be credited to the transferee, who may use such hours for the purpose of receiving vacation and/or sick leave pay. Upon the effective date of such transfer, the transferred vacation and/or sick leave shall be the property of the transferee. (1988 Code § 3-2-1)
F. Rules And Regulations: The council may adopt by resolution rules and regulations to give effect to this section, which may be modified or changed from time to time, but such rules and regulations shall follow the generally accepted principles of good personnel administration. (1988 Code § 3-3-3; amd. Ord. 01-2021, 1-5-2021)