[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Emerson 6-17-1980 by Ord. No. 749. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Borough's affirmative action plan will cover all employees. The purpose of this plan is to ensure that employment and staff development policies shall not discriminate but shall encourage and assist all employees to reach their full potential. This plan requires the total support of all departmental administrative personnel, as well as the commitment of the Mayor and Council. It is the Borough's intention that, as a general concept for recruitment and upward mobility, additional minority and female members of the work force shall be sought. Salary levels for Borough employees shall be determined upon merit and position, and any areas of discrimination based on other factors shall be rectified.
A. 
Effective immediately, the Borough Clerk shall be designated as the official primarily responsible for the administration of the affirmative action plan.
B. 
All department heads shall be designated as the equal employment opportunity official for their department and will be responsible for application of the program in all aspects.
A. 
Community recruitment efforts will be expanded specifically to reach minorities and women.
B. 
Notices of job openings shall be placed in newspapers of general circulation, as well as being sent to community centers, churches, women's groups, colleges and high schools in the area.
C. 
The Borough Clerk shall be available to discuss with interested organizations employment opportunities with the Borough.
D. 
Department heads will be required to utilize equal employment opportunity principles in their placement and promotion decisions and will be responsible to defend them in case inquiry is required.
A. 
Any complaint concerning alleged, unlawful discriminatory practice affecting the employment of a bona fide job applicant or the present employment of an employee of the Borough may be heard through the following procedures:
(1) 
Employee complaints.
(a) 
An aggrieved employee may file a written complaint with the Borough Clerk and send a copy to the respective department head.
(b) 
The Borough Clerk shall refer the written complaint to the appropriate Borough Council committee within 10 working days of receipt. The Council committee shall meet with the department head and the employee to informally resolve the matter. If successful, a resolution of the complaint, in writing, shall be filed with the Borough Clerk and be part of the Borough records.
(c) 
In the event that the committee cannot resolve the written complaint, the same shall be referred to the Mayor and Council as a whole. The Mayor and Council as a whole shall meet with the department head and the employee to resolve the issue. A written determination by the Mayor and Council shall be filed with the Borough Clerk, the department head and the employee.
(2) 
Applicant complaints.
(a) 
An aggrieved bona fide job applicant will file a written complaint with the Borough Clerk described in the alleged discriminatory employment incident.
(b) 
The Borough Council, as a whole, shall receive and review the written complaint and make a determination thereon. A written statement as to the findings of the Mayor and Council shall be filed with the Borough Clerk and sent to the applicant.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BONA FIDE JOB APPLICANT
An individual who has filed an application for employment on a form provided by the Borough for such purposes and has submitted it to the Borough for consideration.
UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION
Any unlawful denial of employment rights because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, marital status or disability as defined by federal and New Jersey State law.