Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Policies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board adopts updated introduction, drug-and-alcohol and vehicle‑use policies; asks staff for redline and change history
Summary
The Select Board approved an updated introduction and definitions for a digitized employee policy handbook and adopted revised drug‑and‑alcohol and vehicle‑use policies with clarified prohibitions and administrative requirements.
The Town of Lakeville Select Board on Aug. 19 adopted a set of revised personnel policies, directing staff to keep change histories and provide redlined drafts for future revisions.
The board approved an introductory policy to support a modular, digitally maintained employee handbook and an updated definitions sheet to accompany personnel policies. Members asked that the digital record include a visible change history and that future revisions be supplied in redline form before board approval.
On the drug‑ and alcohol‑free workplace policy (policy 402), the board added explicit language that prohibits employees from being under the influence, intoxicated, possessing or using controlled substances or alcohol at the workplace or during work hours; the updated language also explicitly references marijuana. Members discussed whether the rule should extend to social events where town business is being conducted and decided to add a specific exception for common social contexts while adding a clear prohibition for operation of town vehicles or equipment while under the influence. The board agreed to spell out “Human Resources” in the policy text rather than using an abbreviation.
The board also adopted an updated vehicle use policy (509). The policy clarifies assignment procedures, requires written assignments for 24‑hour vehicle use, mandates periodic driver‑history checks for municipal drivers, and requires that authorized out‑of‑state travel have written approval. The board added a provision prohibiting employees (other than police officers and animal control personnel acting within the scope of their duties) from keeping firearms in town vehicles. Members raised enforcement and training issues and asked staff to prepare the assignment form and a plan for periodic driving history checks.
All three measures were approved by roll call. The board asked staff to publish the policies online, to collect electronic acknowledgments, and to maintain change logs showing the date and nature of future edits.
