[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Meriden 12-7-1970; amended in its entirety 1-21-1997. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Housing discrimination — See Ch. 122.
STATUTORY REFERENCES
Discrimination in accommodations — See
C.G.S. § 46a-64.
[Amended 6-2-2003]
This chapter shall be known as the "Equal Opportunities
Ordinance."
[Amended 6-2-2003]
A.
The population of Meriden is composed of people of
diverse familial status, races, colors, religions, creeds, national
origins and physical and mental abilities. It is essential to the
health, safety and welfare of the City and its inhabitants that those
differences serve only as bases of individual and community strength
and integrity and not as causes of discrimination, segregation and
restricted opportunities. Discrimination and its consequences cost
the City and its people dearly. They cause unsafe and unsanitary housing,
unemployment and underemployment and human waste.
B.
Denial of equal opportunities to any person because
of familial status, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion,
creed, national origin or physical or mental disability is against
the public policy of the State of Connecticut. Government initiative
to repair the consequences of past denials of equal opportunities,
and to prevent such denials in the future, promotes the state's public
policy. Because Meriden's population is diverse in familial status,
race, color, religion, national origin and physical and mental abilities
and the need for inter-group respect and understanding is therefore
great, it is essential that official local action be taken to promote
and ensure equality of opportunity for all residents of the City.
C.
The City of Meriden does hereby reaffirm its policy
to ensure equal opportunity in employment for all persons; to prohibit
discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, age,
sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry or physical or
mental disability except in case of bona fide occupational qualification
or need; and to promote the full realization of equal employment opportunity
through a continuing intensive affirmative program in each department
of the City which will be an integral part of every aspect of personnel
policies and practices in the employment, development, advancement
and treatment of employees of the City of Meriden to the maximum extent
possible.
D.
The City of Meriden will endeavor to ensure full participation
of all persons contracting or providing services to the City of Meriden
and through this cooperative effort will ultimately improve community
conditions that affect employability. The equal opportunity clause
shall be incorporated in all purchase orders, leases, contracts, etc.,
covered by Executive Order 11246, as amended, and its implementing
regulations.
E.
The City of Meriden, as evidence of its intent to
comply with basic policies and procedures necessary for equal employment
opportunity standards, does hereby direct the City Council to adopt
an affirmative action policy statement which will be on file in the
Town Clerk's office and the office of the City Manager.
As used in this chapter the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes an individual, partnership, association, corporation,
legal representative, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy and receiver.
A.
There shall be established a Human Rights Advocacy
Program, to be administered by the Human Rights Advocate. The Human
Rights Advocate, who shall be an attorney licensed to practice in
the State of Connecticut, shall report directly to, and perform under
the direct supervision of, the City Manager on any issues related
to human rights advocacy. The Human Rights Advocate shall be responsible
for enforcement of the letter and spirit of this chapter. In addition,
the Human Rights Advocate shall serve as a staff liaison to any boards
or commissions as deemed necessary by the City Manager.
B.
The Human Rights Advocate shall be responsible for
ensuring the objectivity of any investigations undertaken and recommendations
made in the enforcement of this chapter. To that end, the work product
of the Human Rights Advocate shall remain physically isolated from
any other department or work product and the Human Rights Advocate
shall take any steps necessary to ensure the absence of any appearance
of a conflict of interest.
C.
The Human Rights Advocate's function shall be to promote
mutual understanding and respect among, and encourage and ensure equality
of opportunity for, all the people of Meriden without regard for their
familial status, race, color, religion, creed, national origin or
physical or mental abilities; to conduct such programs of education,
study, research, investigation and action as will contribute to carrying
out the purposes and provisions of this chapter; and to cooperate
with governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations in
the field of inter-group relations and equal opportunities.
The Human Rights Advocate shall have the following
powers and duties:
A.
To work with federal, state and City agencies as well
as private, civic, religious, business, industrial, labor and other
organizations, groups, and persons to achieve harmonious inter-group
relations in the community as well as to develop and establish positive
programs which will help all members of the community enjoy equality
of opportunity in all phases of community life.
B.
To study and investigate individual or community problems
of limited opportunities, prejudices, discrimination, segregation
and disorder and tensions occasioned thereby.
C.
To assist in expediting complaints by referring complainants
to the appropriate local, state or federal programs, agencies, commissions
or courts which can effectively process, evaluate, address and resolve
their complaint.
D.
To issue reports and publications on its study, research
and investigations designed to promote greater understanding of the
problems, needs and progress in the field of inter-group relations
and equal opportunities.
E.
To counsel and assist in mitigating their damages,
including but not limited to informing the complainant of any applicable
time limitations.
F.
To recommend to the City Council legislation or policies
which will aid in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this
chapter and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
All departments, boards, commissions, agencies,
bureaus, officers, officials and employees of the City shall cooperate
with the Human Rights Advocate in implementing this chapter, and the
heads thereof shall furnish to the Human Rights Advocate information
in their possession when the Human Rights Advocate, upon the approval
of the City Manager, so requests.
