Council adopts updated Millersville Borough employee handbook, citing FMLA, COBRA and IT policy updates

Millersville Borough Council approved a revised employee handbook that consolidates statutory updates and new administrative policies, council members said.

Borough Manager Rebecca told the personnel committee that the borough’s existing handbook dated to 1996 and required updates to reflect federal and state law changes and organizational shifts. “Some of the big things that were changed in there: FMLA was put in there with with today's language,” she said; she also cited updates for COBRA, an IT policy and a social-media policy.

Rebecca said the handbook is a base document for borough employees and that sections covering employees represented by collective bargaining units are superseded by those contracts. The personnel committee moved to adopt the handbook as presented; the motion was seconded and the committee vote carried. Council later moved to accept the committee’s action.

What changed: The update incorporates federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) language, COBRA requirements, several types of leave including military leave, an IT policy and a social-media policy; Rebecca said department heads and labor counsel reviewed the draft.

Why it matters: A modernized handbook aims to align borough personnel policy with current law and organizational practice; the document will be the baseline for non–bargained employees while collective-bargaining agreements continue to govern represented staff.

Next steps: Council accepted the personnel committee’s recommendation and adopted the handbook as presented; staff will implement the updated policies and apply contract provisions where collective-bargaining agreements exist.