[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Seaside
Heights 2-19-1997 by Ord. No. 97-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administrative offices — See Ch. 5.
Persons employed by the Borough of Seaside Heights in a position provided
by this chapter shall possess good health and freedom from disabling physical
and mental defects which impair the proper performance of the required duties,
or which might endanger the health and safety of oneself or others. Persons
with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform
the essential functions of the job position after reasonable accommodation
is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because
it would cause the employer undue hardship, such person may not be eligible.
A.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council, shall appoint one employee to serve as Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) Coordinator. The ADA Coordinator shall be familiar with the requirements
of the ADA and coordinate borough efforts to comply with and carry out borough
responsibilities under the ADA and the rules promulgated pursuant thereto,
including the investigation of complaints alleging violations of the ADA.
B.
The borough shall make the name, office address and telephone
number of the ADA Coordinator available to any interested individuals.
C.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council, may appoint an individual to serve as Deputy ADA Coordinator. The
Deputy ADA Coordinator shall assist the ADA Coordinator and perform such duties
as required by the ADA Coordinator.
E.
The term of office for the ADA Coordinator and Deputy
ADA Coordinator shall be for one year, commencing on January 1 of the year
of appointment and ending on December 31 of the year of appointment.
A.
The borough shall disseminate sufficient information
to inform all interested persons of the rights and protections afforded by
ADA and the rules promulgated pursuant thereto related to the responsibilities
of the Borough of Seaside Heights. This information shall be provided in a
manner consistent with the federal rules for effective communication.
B.
The borough may fulfill this requirement by publication
of information in handbooks, manuals or pamphlets which describe the borough's
programs and activities, by the display of posters in service centers and
other public places or the broadcast of information on radio or television.
The borough shall adopt and publish the following grievance procedure
which provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging
any action that is prohibited by the ADA and the rules promulgated pursuant
thereto:
A.
Grievances shall be processed promptly and expeditiously
and shall be adjudicated according to the terms of the procedure provided
herein.
B.
Formal grievances and appeals shall be in writing.
C.
Communications and decisions concerning formal grievances
shall be in writing.
D.
A written complaint signed by the grievant shall be filed
with the ADA Coordinator within 15 days after the alleged violation. The ADA
Coordinator shall forward a copy of any written complaint received to the
Mayor and Borough Council.
E.
The complaint shall identify the parties and contain
a clear and concise statement of the facts that constitute the alleged discrimination
on the basis of disability.
F.
The ADA Coordinator shall review the grievance and hold
a hearing.
G.
A grievant shall be permitted a representative at all
levels of the grievance procedure and may produce witnesses for the purpose
of providing testimony relevant to the alleged discrimination on the basis
of disability.
H.
A written determination shall be issued by the ADA Coordinator
and a copy forwarded by certified mail to the grievant no later than 30 days
after the date of the hearing on the complaint. A copy of said determination
shall be provided to the Mayor and Borough Council.
I.
If the grievant is dissatisfied with the answer submitted
by the ADA Coordinator, the grievant may appeal the answer to the ADA Advisory
Board within seven days after receipt of the written answer. A hearing shall
be scheduled within seven days after receipt of the grievance appeal. The
hearing granted by the ADA Advisory Board will take place within 15 days after
the scheduled date is submitted to the grievant.
J.
Minutes of the hearing shall be kept, or in the alternative,
the hearing may be recorded.
K.
The ADA Advisory Board shall make its determination regarding
the appeal within 15 days from the date of the hearing and thereafter make
the appropriate written report to the Mayor and Borough Council setting forth
its findings and recommendations. The Mayor and Borough Council shall review
the findings and recommendations of the ADA Advisory Board and make a final
determination on the appeal.
L.
The ADA Coordinator shall maintain the files and records
of the borough relating to complaints filed.
M.
Failure by the grievant to process a grievance or appeal
the decision of the ADA Coordinator within the specified time limit shall
render the grievance as settled in favor of the borough. Failure by the borough
to issue a decision within the specified time limit shall render the grievance
advanced to the next level. The aforementioned time limits may, however, be
extended by mutual consent of the parties.
N.
This grievance procedure shall be construed to protect
the substantive rights of interested persons, to meet appropriate due process
standards and to assure that the borough complied with the requirements of
the ADA and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
A.
The ADA Advisory Board shall evaluate all borough programs
and services to ensure equal opportunity and equal access.
B.
The ADA Advisory Board shall distribute the self-evaluation
plan and permit comment thereon by all interested parties.
C.
The self-evaluation shall in all respects comply with
the federal rules adopted pursuant to the ADA and shall be kept on file for
a period of three years.
A.
The hiring practices of the borough shall not discriminate
against persons with disabilities.
B.
All job descriptions shall precisely and accurately describe
the essential functions of the job performed by each employee.
C.
Job applications shall pertain strictly to job performance.
D.
All job interviews shall be limited to questions concerning
the applicant's ability to perform the job.
E.
The interviewer shall not inquire about disabilities
or conduct tests that screen out people with disabilities.
F.
Questions about the applicant's addiction to alcohol
or drugs shall not be asked.
G.
The borough shall not conduct medical examinations or
inquiries of job applicants prior to an offer of employment. The borough may,
however, require medical examinations and/or inquiries after making an offer
of employment to a job applicant and before the applicant begins employment
with the borough. The borough may condition an offer of employment on the
results of the medical examination or inquiry. If the borough chooses to conduct
such medical examinations or inquiries, all entering employees in the same
job category shall be subject to the examination or inquiry regardless of
disability.
H.
Any medical information obtained from employee medical
examinations and inquiries shall be maintained on separate forms and shall
be treated as confidential and not kept in an employee's personnel file.
I.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible
as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable
accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot
be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such person may
not be eligible.
A.
The borough shall make reasonable accommodations to make
its facilities accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
An individual shall not be excluded from participation in or be denied the
benefits of the services, programs or activities of the borough due to disability.
B.
The borough shall make reasonable accommodations to its
facilities as required by the ADA.
C.
The borough shall prepare a transition plan setting forth
the steps necessary to complete the structural changes in all public facilities.
All interested persons, including individuals with disabilities, shall be
able to participate in the development of the transition plan. After completion,
a copy of the transition plan shall be made available for public inspection.
The transition plan shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1)
Identification of physical obstacles in the borough's
facilities that limit the accessibility of its programs or activities to individuals
with disabilities.
(2)
Description in detail of the methods that will be used
to make the facilities accessible.
(3)
Specify the schedule for taking the steps necessary to
achieve compliance.
(4)
Indicate the official responsible for implementation
of the plan.
(5)
Indicate why certain borough facilities cannot be made
accessible.
D.
Effective immediately, the new construction and alteration
provisions of the ADA and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall apply
to all borough construction.
A.
The borough shall take whatever steps may be necessary
to ensure that communications with applicants, participants and members of
the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others.
B.
Auxiliary aids and services shall be furnished to afford
individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy
the benefits of the borough's services, programs and activities.
C.
The borough shall equip emergency systems with telecommunications
devices for the deaf (TDD's) and computer modems.
D.
All borough communications, including the public notices required by § 21-4 of this chapter, shall comply with the communication requirements of the ADA and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
E.
The borough shall place an appropriate access statement
on all public communications.
