No official, employee, appointee or volunteer of the Riverside
Sewerage Authority, by whatever title known, or any entity that is
in any way a part of the Riverside Sewerage Authority, shall engage,
either directly or indirectly in any act, including the failure to
act, that constitutes discrimination, harassment, denial of a legally
required reasonable accommodation or a violation of any person's constitutional
rights while such official, employee, appointee, volunteer, or entity
is engaged in or acting on behalf of the Riverside Sewerage Authority's
business or using the facilities or property of the Riverside Sewerage
Authority.
The prohibitions and requirements of this article shall extend
to any person or entity, including but not limited to any volunteer
organization or interlocal organization, whether structured as a governmental
entity or a private entity, that receives authorization or support
in any way from the Riverside Sewerage Authority to provide services
that otherwise could be performed by the Riverside Sewerage Authority.
Discrimination, harassment, denial of a legally required reasonable
accommodation and civil rights shall be defined, for purposes of this
article, using the latest definitions contained in the applicable
federal and state laws concerning those issues.
The Riverside Sewerage Authority has established written procedures
for any person to report alleged violations prohibited by this article,
affixed as Attachment A. Such procedures shall include alternate ways to report
a complaint so that the person making the complaint need not communicate
with the alleged violator in the event the alleged violator would
be the normal contact for such complaints. Individuals and organizations
are encouraged to promptly report all violations or complaints.
No person shall retaliate against any person who reports any
alleged discrimination, harassment, denial of a legally required reasonable
accommodation or violation of civil rights; provided, however, that
any person who reports alleged violations in bad faith shall be subject
to appropriate discipline.
The Riverside Sewerage Authority shall establish written procedures
that require all officials, employees, appointees and volunteers of
the Riverside Sewerage Authority, as well as all other entities subject
to this article, to periodically complete training concerning their
duties, responsibilities and rights pursuant to this article.
The Secretary of the Riverside Sewerage Authority shall establish
a system to monitor compliance and shall report at least annually
to the governing body the results of the monitoring.
At least annually, the Secretary of the Riverside Sewerage Authority
shall cause a summary of this article and the procedures established
pursuant to this article to be communicated within the Riverside Sewerage
Authority. This communication shall include a statement from the governing
body expressing its unequivocal commitment to enforce this article.
This summary shall also be posted on the Riverside Sewerage Authority's
website.
This article shall take effect immediately.
A copy of this article shall be published in the official newspaper
of the Riverside Sewerage Authority in order for the public to be
made aware of this policy and the Riverside Sewerage Authority's commitment
to the implementation and enforcement of this policy.