For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGE. Forty or above.
BLIND PERSON. A person whose central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or if his visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is occasioned by a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20°.
COMMISSION. The Weirton Human Rights Commission.
DISABLED. A person who:
(1) Has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities;
MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES include functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working;
(2) Has a record of such impairment; or
(3) Is regarded as having such an impairment. For the purposes of this article, this term does not include persons whose current use of or addiction to alcohol or drugs prevents such individual from performing the duties of the job in question or whose employment, by reasons of such current alcohol or drug abuse, would constitute a direct threat to property or the safety of others.
DISCRIMINATE or DISCRIMINATION. To exclude from, or fail or refuse to extend to, a person equal opportunities because of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, or familial status and includes “to separate” or “segregate.”
EMPLOYEE. This term shall not include any individual employed by his parents, spouse or child, or in the domestic service of any person.
EMPLOYER. Any person employing nine or more persons within the city and includes an agent of such person, the State of West Virginia and its agencies. Provided, that such terms shall not be taken, understood or construed to include a private club, which, in fact, is not open to the public.
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY. Any person regularly undertaking with or without compensation to procure, recruit, refer or place employees. A newspaper engaged in the activity of advertising in the normal course of its business shall not be deemed to be an EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
FAMILIAL STATUS. One or more individuals, who have not attained the age of 18 years, being domiciled with:
(1) A parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or
(2) The designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person. The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years. Nothing in this definition restricts advertisements of dwellings which are intended to be operated for occupancy by older persons and which constitute housing for older persons.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS. Any building or portion thereof which is used or intended for use as the residence or sleeping place of one or more persons. Nothing contained in this definition or this article shall apply to the rental of a room or rooms in the rooming house occupied by the owner as a place of residence and containing no more than four rented rooms, or rooms to be rented.
LABOR ORGANIZATION. Any organization which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part for collective bargaining or for dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or for other mutual aid or protection in relation to employment.
OWNER. The owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, manager, agents or other person having the right to sell, rent or lease any housing accommodation or real property within the city or any agent of any of these.
PERSON. One or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, labor organizations, cooperatives, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers and other organized groups of person.
PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS. Any establishment or person, as defined herein, excluding the city and any of its affiliated boards and commissions, or any political or civil subdivision thereof, which offers its services, goods, facilities or accommodations to the general public, but does not include any accommodations which are in their nature private.
PURCHASER. Any occupant, prospective occupant, lessee, prospective lessee, renter, prospective renter, buyer or prospective buyer.
REAL ESTATE BROKER. Any person, firm or corporation who, for a fee commission or other valuable consideration, or by reason of a promise or reasonable expectation thereof, lists for sale, sells, exchanges, buys or rents, or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, exchange, purchase or rental of real estate or an interest therein, or collects or offers or attempts to collect rent for the use of real estate or solicits for a prospective purchaser, or assists or desists in the procuring of prospects or the negotiation or closing of any transaction which does or is contemplated to result in the sale, exchange, leasing, renting or auctioning of any real estate, or negotiates, offers or attempts or agrees to negotiate a loan secured or to be secured by mortgage or other encumbrance upon transfer of any real estate for others, or any person who, for pecuniary gain or expectation of pecuniary gain, conducts a public or private competitive sale of lands or any interest in lands. In the sale of lots, the term REAL ESTATE BROKER also includes any person, partnership, association or corporation employed by or on behalf of the owner or owners of lots or other parcels of real estate at a stated salary and commission, or otherwise, to sell such real estate, or any parts thereof, in lots or other parcels, and who shall sell or exchange, or offer or attempt or agree to negotiate the sale or exchange of any such lot or parcel of real estate. A newspaper engaged in the activity of advertising in the normal course of its business shall not be deemed to be a real estate broker.
REAL ESTATE SALESMAN. Any person who, for compensation, valuable consideration or commission, or other thing of value, or by reason of a promise or reasonable expectation thereof, is employed by and operates under the supervision of a real estate broker to sell, buy or offer to buy or negotiate the purchase, sales or exchange of real estate, offers or attempts to negotiate a loan secured or to be secured by a mortgage or other encumbrance upon or transfer of real estate for others, or to collect rents for the use of real estate, or to solicit for prospective purchasers or lessees of real estate, or who is employed by a licensed real estate broker to sell or offer to sell lots or other parcels of real estate, at a stated salary, or upon a commission, or upon a salary and commission, or otherwise, to sell real estate, or any parts thereof, in lots or other parcels.
REAL PROPERTY. Real estate, lands, leaseholds, commercial or industrial buildings and any vacant land offered for sale or rent on which the construction of a housing accommodation, commercial or industrial building is intended, and any land operated as a trailer camp or rented or leased for the use, parking or storage of mobile homes or house trailers.
ROOMING HOUSE. A house or building where there are one or more bedrooms which the proprietor can spare for the purpose of giving lodgings to such persons as he chooses to receive.
UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. Only those practices specified in § 149.08.
(Ord. 1010, passed 1-11-93; Am. Ord. 1488, passed 7-10-06)