[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Pittston 5-28-2013 by Ord. No.
2013-5. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
In order to ensure that all persons, regardless of actual or perceived
race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information, national
origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial
status, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, use of
guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids, enjoy the full benefits
of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment,
housing and the use of public accommodations and to have equal access
to postsecondary educational institutions, it is necessary that appropriate
legislation be enacted.
B.
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the City Council
of the City of Pittston to foster the employment of all individuals
in accordance with their fullest capacities, regardless of actual
or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information,
national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
familial status, marital status, age, veteran status, mental or physical
disability, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids,
and to safeguard their right to obtain and hold employment without
such discrimination, to assure equal opportunities to all individuals
and to safeguard their rights to public accommodation and to secure
housing accommodation and commercial property without regard to actual
or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information,
national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
familial status, marital status, age, mental or physical disability,
use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids, and to have
equal access to postsecondary educational institutions without regard
to actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic
information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity
or expression, familial status, marital status, age, mental or physical
disability, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids.
C.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as supporting or advocating
any particular doctrine, position, point of view, lifestyle or religious
view. To the contrary, it is the intention of this chapter that all
persons be treated fairly and equally, and it is the express intent
of this chapter to guarantee fair and equal treatment under the law
to all people of the City of Pittston.
D.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the
City of Pittston for the protection of the public welfare, prosperity,
health and peace of the City and the Pittston City community.
A.
CITY
CITY COUNCIL
DISCRIMINATION
DISCRIMINATORY ACTS
EMPLOYER
GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION
PERSON
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall
have the meanings given to them in this section:
The City of Pittston, County of Luzerne, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
The City Council of the City of Pittston.
Any discriminatory act(s) taken by any person, employer,
employment agency, labor organization or public accommodation on the
basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry,
genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity
or expression, familial status, marital status, age, mental or physical
disability, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids.
All acts defined in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act[1] as unlawful discriminatory practices. The fact that the
Pennsylvania Human Relations Act would not define a practice as unlawful
when that practice is taken on the basis of actual or perceived sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or
marital status shall not exempt such practice from being considered
a discriminatory act under this chapter.
Any person who employs one or more employees, including the
City of Pittston, its departments, boards and commissions, and any
other government agency within its jurisdiction.
Self perception, or perception by others, as male or female,
and shall include an individual's appearance, behavior, or physical
characteristics, that may be in accord with, or opposed to, one's
physical anatomy, chromosomal sex, or sex assigned at birth, and shall
include, but is not limited to, persons who are undergoing or have
completed sex reassignment, are transgendered or gender variant.
Any natural person, fraternal, civic or other membership
organization, corporation, general or limited partnership, proprietorship,
limited-liability company, or similar business organization, including
the City of Pittston, its departments, boards and commissions, and
other for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Any accommodation, resort or amusement which is open to,
accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public or offers
goods or services, including loans, to the general public or is listed
in Section 4(l) of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 P.S. § 954(l).
Actual or perceived homosexuality, heterosexuality and/or
bisexuality.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 43 P.S. § 951 et seq.
B.
To the extent words and phrases appearing in this chapter are not
expressly defined herein, the meanings in this chapter shall be construed
consistently with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
A.
Discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations or access
to educational institutions is prohibited under this chapter.
B.
Retaliation against any individual because such individual has opposed
any practice forbidden by this chapter or because such individual
has made a charge, testified or assisted in any manner in any investigation,
proceeding or hearing under this chapter is prohibited under this
chapter.
C.
Aiding, abetting, inciting, compelling or coercing the doing of any
act declared by this chapter to be an unlawful practice or obstructing
or preventing any person from complying with the provisions of this
chapter is prohibited under this chapter.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it shall
not be an unlawful employment practice for a religious corporation
or association, not supported in whole or in part by governmental
appropriations, to refuse to hire or employ an individual on the basis
of religion.
A.
Pursuant to 43 P.S. § 962.1 of the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Act, there is hereby established a Human Relations Commission in and
for the City of Pittston (hereinafter referred to as the "Pittston
City Human Relations Commission" or the "Commission").
B.
The Pittston City Human Relations Commission shall consist of no
fewer than seven and no more than 15 members, who shall serve overlapping
terms of three years each. At all times, there shall be an odd number
of members. All members of the Commission shall be appointed by the
City Council. The Commission may elect up to three nonvoting, ex officio
members to broaden the diversity that serves on the Commission. Members
shall be residents of the City or individuals who work full-time within
the City of Pittston. No voting member of the Pittston City Human
Relations Commission shall hold any office in any political party.
Members of the Pittston City Human Relations Commission shall serve
without salary but may be paid expenses incurred in the performance
of their duties, as approved by City Council. Paid staff may be hired,
as approved by City Council, to assist in the performance of the duties
of the Commission.
C.
One of the Commission's members shall be appointed as the Chairperson
of the Commission by City Council. The Chairperson will be responsible
for setting Commission meetings, coordinating with the Pittston City
Administrator regarding received complaints and answers, and generally
ensuring that the duties of the Commission are fulfilled. The Chairperson
may delegate responsibility for Commission duties to specific Commissioners
or to paid staff, if applicable.
D.
City Council hereby grants to the Pittston City Human Relations Commission
all of the powers necessary to the execution of its duties (as set
forth below), provided that those powers shall not exceed those exercised
by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission under the Pennsylvania
Human Relations Act.
A.
Filing a complaint.
(1)
Any person(s) claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful practice may
make, sign and file a verified complaint alleging violations of this
chapter, which shall include the following information:
(a)
The name and address of the aggrieved person(s);
(b)
The name and address of the person(s) alleged to have committed
the prohibited practice;
(c)
A concise statement of the facts, including pertinent dates,
constituting the alleged discriminatory practice;
(d)
If applicable, the address and a description of the dwelling
unit which is involved; and
(e)
Such other information as may be required by the Pittston City
Human Relations Commission.
(2)
Complaints may be filed in person at the City Administrator's
office or by mailing such complaints to the City Administrator's
office or to the Chairperson of the Pittston City Human Relations
Commission. All complaints must be received by the City Administrator's
office or by the Pittston City Human Relations Commission within 180
days of the alleged act of discrimination to be considered timely.
(3)
The City Administrator's office shall convey all original complaints
received by that office to the Chairperson of the Pittston City Human
Relations Commission within 10 days of the office's receipt of
such complaints.
B.
Notification and answer.
(1)
Within 30 days of its receipt of a complaint, the Pittston City Human
Relations Commission shall:
(a)
Send a copy of the complaint to the person(s) charged with a
discriminatory practice [the "respondent(s)"]; and
(b)
Send a notice to the person(s) aggrieved, informing them that
the complaint has been received. If the complaint alleges discrimination
on a basis prescribed under federal or state law, the notice sent
to the person(s) aggrieved shall also inform them of the right to
file with the State Human Relations Commission and/or with the Federal
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
(2)
The respondent(s) shall file a written verified answer to the complaint
within 60 days of receipt of the complaint. An answer to a complaint
may be filed in the same manner as an original complaint. If the answer
is filed with the City Administrator's office, it shall be conveyed
by the City Administrator to the Chairperson of the Pittston City
Human Relations Commission within 10 days of the City Administrator's
office's receipt thereof. The Commission shall promptly send
a copy of the answer to the person(s) aggrieved.
C.
Fact-finding conference.
(1)
After the answer has been received, the Commission shall, within
60 days, invite the parties to voluntarily participate in a fact-finding
conference concerning the dispute. The parties shall respond to the
invitation to participate in a fact-finding conference within 30 days
of being invited to participate.
(2)
If the parties agree to participate in a fact-finding conference, the parties shall meet with a Commission member at a location mutually agreeable to the parties within 30 days of the agreement to participate. Each party will be invited at the fact-finding conference to present evidence and documents relevant to the complaint. The fact-finding conference will not be a public event, and no record of the conference will be created, excepting the findings of fact detailed in Subsection C(3).
(3)
The parties shall notify the Commission of whether the fact-finding
conference resulted in a resolution of the complaint. In the event
the complaint is resolved, the Commission shall notify the parties
that the complaint has been dismissed. In the event the complaint
is not resolved through the fact-finding conference, then the Commissioner,
within 30 days, shall prepare findings of fact and a conclusion as
to whether the Commissioner finds probable cause that an unlawful
practice has occurred.
D.
Disposition of the complaint. Provided the Commission has not elected under Subsection E of this section to use expanded procedures, and if the complaint is not resolved through the fact-finding conference, the Commission shall, at the second Commission meeting following the fact-finding conference, consider the findings prepared by the Commissioner who conducted the fact-finding conference. The Commission shall accept or reject the findings by public vote. The Commission shall provide the parties with the findings of fact and conclusion, shall notify the parties of the outcome of the vote, and this notice shall also indicate that the person aggrieved has a right to pursue the matter in court by filing a lawsuit.
E.
Option of the Commission to elect for expanded procedures. The Commission shall have the authority to elect to adopt expanded procedures as set forth in Subsection F of this section, subject to approval by the Pittston City Council and appropriation of funding for such procedures. A majority of Commission members must vote in favor of adopting expanded procedures in order for such procedures to be adopted. In the event that such procedures are adopted, they must, while in effect, be applied to all complaints that are not resolved through a fact-finding conference. If the Commission has adopted expanded procedures, it may also, by majority vote and in its sole discretion, eliminate such procedures.
F.
Expanded procedures.
(1)
Dismissal or nondismissal of the complaint. If the fact-finding conference was successful in resolving the complaint, the Commission shall follow the procedures set forth in Subsection C(3) of this section for dismissing the complaint. If the fact-finding conference was not successful in resolving the complaint, the Commission shall not dismiss the complaint but shall instead undertake the procedures set out in Subsection F(2) through (7) of this section.
(2)
Investigation.
The Commission shall, in a timely fashion, investigate the allegations
of discrimination set forth in the complaint. The Commission may,
in the conduct of such investigation, issue subpoenas to any person
charged with an unlawful practice to furnish information, records
or other documents, or to give sworn testimony, as necessary to assist
in its investigation.
(3)
Finding
of no cause. If it shall be determined after the Commission's
investigation that there is no basis for the allegations of the complaint,
the Commission shall cause to be issued and served upon the parties
written notice of such determination. This notice shall inform the
person aggrieved that he/she has the right to pursue the matter in
court by filing a lawsuit.
(4)
Conciliation.
If the Commission, after investigation, determines that probable cause
exists for the allegations of the complaint, the Commission shall
immediately endeavor to eliminate the unlawful practice complained
of by persuasion, conference and conciliation.
(5)
Public
hearing.
(a)
If the Commission, in its discretion, finds it is not possible
to eliminate the unlawful practices by persuasion, conference or conciliation,
the Commission shall cause to be issued and served a written notice,
together with a copy of the complaint, which informs the respondent
that the respondent must answer the charges of such complaint at a
hearing before the Commission at a time and place to be specified
in such notice.
(b)
The Commission may designate one or more of its members to preside
at such a hearing or it may, at its election, conduct such hearing
en banc.
(c)
At the public hearing, the case in support of the complaint
shall be presented to the Commission by pro bono counsel, or by Commission
staff. The case in support of the complaint may instead be presented
by the complainant's attorney, if the complainant is represented.
Both the complainant and the respondent may appear at the hearing
with or without counsel and provide testimony. In addition, both the
complainant and the respondent may introduce the testimony of additional
witnesses and may submit documentary evidence. The Commission and
the parties shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence at
the hearing.
(6)
Findings.
If upon all the evidence at the hearing the Commission shall find
that a respondent has engaged in or is engaging in any unlawful discriminatory
practice as defined in this chapter, the Commission shall state its
findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on such respondent
an order requiring such respondent to cease and desist from such unlawful
discriminatory practice and to take such additional action as the
Commission deems appropriate. The Commission shall have the authority
to order any remedies available to the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
(7)
Finding of no discrimination. If upon all the evidence the Commission
shall find that a respondent has not engaged in any unlawful discriminatory
practice, the Commission shall state its findings of fact and shall
issue and cause to be served on the parties an order dismissing the
complaint as to such respondent.
A.
Any person(s) aggrieved by a violation of this chapter shall have
a right of action in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas or any
other court of competent jurisdiction and may recover for each violation
the following remedies:
(1)
Back pay, front pay and other actual damages, as those remedies are
defined in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and case law interpreting
the same;
(2)
Emotional distress damages;
(3)
Exemplary damages;
(4)
Reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs; and
(5)
Such other relief, including injunctive relief, as the court may
deem appropriate.
B.
The right of action created by this chapter may be brought upon receipt
by the aggrieved person(s) of notice that the Commission has dismissed
the complaint or, if no such notice is received, after one year from
the date of the filing of the complaint. If the person aggrieved has
received notice that the Commission has dismissed the complaint, an
action under this chapter must be brought by the aggrieved person
within one year from the date of receipt of said notice or it will
be barred.
C.
Nothing in this chapter limits the right of an aggrieved person to
recover under any other applicable law or legal theory.
