As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMPLAINT Any employee or applicant dissatisfaction with any request for redress from an act or failure to act on the part of management which has affected an individual personally and adversely; a charge of general discriminatory practice filed by an organization.
DISCRIMINATION Acting or failing to act or unduly delaying any action regarding any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, physical disability or membership in lawful organizations in such a way that a person is adversely affected in the area of employment with the township, except where membership in one of these classes is a bona fide obstacle to job performance.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY COMMISSION A broad-based group of township employees and municipal and public representatives to advise the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer and Township Committee and render decisions in formal complaint cases.
ETHNIC ORIGINS Specifies a cultural, regional ethnic minority as defined by the Appalachian Commission.
HEARING, FORMAL Any inquiry, investigation or meeting held by the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Commission at which compulsory adopted processes are involved and a record is prepared for the purpose of the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Commission's final decision.
HEARING, INFORMAL Any inquiry, investigation or meeting conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, in which compulsory processes are not invoked and a record is not prepared for the purpose of providing the basis of the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer's final decision.
MINORITY Any member of an affected class by virtue of past discrimination. The term "minority" is therefore meant to include those who have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, physical disability or membership in lawful organizations. All persons shall be entitled to redress and relief or grievances in instances of discrimination, even if such discrimination is not specifically enumerated above.
MOBILITY The provision of opportunities for upward and lateral movement to comparable or higher classifications that signifies a commitment to better utilize employee talents and to encompass such factors as status, salary and responsibility.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE The outward appearance of any person, irrespective of sex, with regard to hairstyle, beards or manner of dress. It shall not relate, however, to the requirement of cleanliness, uniforms and safety consciousness.
The Township of Hamilton does hereby reaffirm its policy to assure equal opportunity in employment for all persons and to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin and to promote equal employment opportunity through a policy of equal opportunity employment practices in each department of the Township of Hamilton in the recruitment, employment, advancement and treatment of employees and prospective employees of the Township of Hamilton to the maximum extent possible.
It is the commitment of the Township of Hamilton to ultimately establish and maintain an integrated and balanced work force throughout the township to effectively meet the needs of the citizens of the Township of Hamilton.
Any person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter who has exhausted the remedies herein provided may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for appropriate relief, including but not limited to:
A. An injunction including an order compelling compliance with this chapter.
B. Such other and further relief which may seem appropriate to the court for the enforcement of this chapter in the elimination of violations thereof.
This chapter is adopted in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (PL 88-54).