(a) Council finds that the City has followed an unwritten principle of hiring and employing employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap (except where age or handicap would be an obvious bona fide obstacle to expected and required job performance).
(b) Council further finds that the guidelines have been set forth by the City for equality in hiring and promotion of its employees in an affirmative action program. Further, it is now morally and legally required to formally promulgate and delineate the aforesaid longstanding policy.
(c) Council herewith approves and accepts the affirmative action program relating to equal employment opportunity in hiring and promotion of employees of the City. A copy of such program is available from and on file with the Clerk of Council, the office of the Mayor, the Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer (the Director of Finance) and all department heads.
(d) Council herewith declares that the City must continue to hire and promote its employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap (except as hereinbefore limited) and furthermore must continue to recruit, hire and develop the best qualified persons available for jobs involved. Its judgment in such matters shall be based on job related qualifications.
(e) Artificial barriers of personal attitudes and customs cannot be permitted to have effect in matters of employment practices. The City pledges itself that all matters relative to recruitment, hiring and promoting are undertaken to effect the principal of equal opportunity and that only valid requirements are imposed when promotional opportunities exist. Further, all matters relating to compensation, benefits, transfers, lay-offs, recall from lay-offs and training will be free from any and all discriminatory practices. All facilities of the City will be available to employees on a nondiscriminatory basis.
(f) The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to appoint the Director of Finance as the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer of the City, who shall have the responsibility for the implementation of the City's affirmative action program. Such officer shall conduct periodic reviews to determine if affirmative action goals are being achieved. Reports of such reviews shall be the basis for appropriate action to correct deficiencies, in accordance with the affirmative action plan adopted herein.
(g) The Clerk of Council is hereby authorized and directed to post or have posted a copy of this section, together with a copy of the affirmative action plan, on all departmental bulletin boards. He or she shall also forward copies of the affirmative action program and this section to all department heads. Further, he or she shall make available, upon request, copies of this section and the affirmative action program to all employees desiring the same.
(Res. 77-89. Passed 11-21-77.)