(a) All Town employees, including the Zoning Administrator, not elected by the voters shall be appointed, supervised, and removed by the Town Manager unless otherwise specified in this charter. There shall be no discrimination in employment on account of race, religion, or political opinions. Appointments, layoffs, suspensions, promotions, demotions, and removals shall be made solely on the basis of training, experience, fitness, and performance of duties of the individual, in such manner as to ensure that the responsible administrative officer may secure efficient service.

(b) Each employee shall have a three to 12 month period of probation, as specified in the personnel rules and regulations as established under section 802 of this chapter, during which time he or she may be freely discharged. After this period(s), he or she must be notified in writing of his or her suspension, demotion, layoff, or removal and of the reason for such action. Within 10 days of such notice(s), he or she may request a public or executive hearing before the Selectboard that must hold such hearing not less than 10 days or more than 20 days after such request. The Selectboard may support the action of the Town Manager or may modify it. (Amended 2015, No. M-1, § 2, eff. Jan. 27, 2015.)