08/28/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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subcontractors and, in this case, a local would be considered to be a subcontractor, so the right to approve the subcontractor does exist. - Mr. Pfeiffer of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer said he is ecstatic about the project, and is looking forward to working with the City of Eugene. He said Eugene has extended itself in welcoming and interviewing the architects. Dory Lee McGillivary commented that every finalist firm was affiliated with a national firm so that no firm was totally local in nature. B. Mandatory Retirement (Ordinance Change raising age to 70 for protection against discrimi- nation in employment). Manager commented that the ordinance change would apply to all citizens living in Eugene and not just the City staff. He said the Aging Commission would like all reference to age removed but that at the present time the ordinance is focusing on age 70 with effects of removing all age reference to be studied at a later date. This ordi- nance is to parallel as closely as possible the Federal legislation. Jean Freeman, Aging Commission, said the Commission hopes that Council would remove any reference to age at some time in the future. She said mandatory retirement is blatant discrimination. Practices which would be deplored if directed against other minority groups are accepted as fair treatment for older people. It is an arbitrary - denial of human rights. She said the American Medical Association Aging Committee says it robs people of the right to live full, well- rounded lives. It encourages decay. She added that more people are taking early retirement, and abolishing mandatory retirement would not change that. Anyone capable of working past the age of 65 should be able to do so. She said it makes no sense to force people out of jobs, and then have federally funded programs to employ retired persons. She said the Commission requests three things: 1) that the Council write a position paper favoring total abolishment of mandatory retirement; 2) mandate to the state legislature to enact enabling legislation regarding fair labor laws and PERS; and 3) express support for efforts for a statewide coalition to advocate passage of proposed legislation. She noted distribution to Council on Seattle's efforts on the abolition of mandatory retirement which she hopes will be of assistance to Council in its deliberations. Mr. Hamel agrees with raising the age but is concerned with what happens to an individual wanting to retire at, say, age 62. Peter DeFazio, Jim Weaver's assistant on aging, said the ordinance would not change anyone's right to retire early. Andy Clement, Human Rights staff, said a person retiring early presumably would not need the protection of the discrimination code because his retirement plan would protect him. The change, however, would permit a person to work later, not demand that he do so. e 8/28/78--2 580