[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Stafford 9-7-1993 by Ord. No. 93-58. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Township
Council, shall appoint one employee to serve as ADA Coordinator. The
ADA Coordinator shall be familiar with the requirements of the ADA
and coordinate Township efforts to comply with and carry out Township
responsibilities under the ADA and the rules promulgated pursuant
thereto, including the investigation of complaints alleging violations
of the ADA.
B.
The Township 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 Township
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 Township 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 Township of Stafford. This information shall be provided in
a manner consistent with the federal rules for effective communication.
B.
The Township may fulfill this requirement by publication
of information in handbooks, manuals or pamphlets which describe the
Township'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 Township 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 Township 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 handicap;
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 Township
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 hear the appeal within
15 days from the date of filing of the appeal and thereafter make
the appropriate written report to the Mayor and Township Council setting
forth its findings and recommendations. The Mayor and Township 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 Township 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 Township.
Failure by the Township 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 Township complied with
the requirements of the ADA and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
A.
The ADA Advisory Board shall evaluate all Township
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 Township 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 Township shall not conduct medical examinations
or inquiries of job applicants prior to an offer of employment. The
Township may, however, require medical examinations and/or inquires
after making an offer of employment to a job applicant and before
the applicant begins employment with the Township. The Township may
condition an offer of employment on the results of the medical examination
or inquiry. If the Township 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 Township 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 Township due to disability.
B.
The Township shall make reasonable accommodations
to its facilities as required by the ADA.
C.
The Township 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 Township'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)
Specification of the schedule for taking the steps
necessary to achieve compliance;
(4)
Indication of the official responsible for implementation
of the plan.
(5)
Indication why certain Township 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 Township construction.
A.
The Township 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 Township's services, programs and
activities.
C.
The Township shall equip emergency systems with telecommunications
devices for the deaf (TDDs) and computer modems.
D.
All Township communications, including the public notices required by § 6-3 of this chapter, shall comply with the communication requirements of the ADA and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
E.
The Township shall place an appropriate access statement
on all public communications.