12/13/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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He said that, in the cityl s affirmative action program for 1975-80, it says that handicapped personnel could not be employed for positions . which involve strenuous physical activity. The Handicapped Commission feels that is a highly illegal and discrimatory statement leaving the city in a very vulnerable position. He finally said that the Personnel Department has been totally unresponsive to inquiries for further inform'ation and clarification of reports. Sarah Lichtenstein, president of the'Womenls Commission, summarized that Commission's response. She said that its lateness is just one symptom of the inadequacy of the cityls affirmative action program. It is flawed by incompleteness, vagueness, inconsistencies, and un- warranted self satisfaction. She said the report indicates that women employees of the city are worse off now than they were at the beginning of the program. "If the city continues as it did during 1974-75, in just 15 years there will be no women working for the city at all," she sa id . She said the Commission feels that lack of money is not an accept- able excuse for lack of progress on affirmative action, either morally or legally, and the Commission urges the City Counc il to reassess the priority given to affirmative action to give new direction to the program, and to ensure future progress. Mrs. Beal said that the blame for the shameful affirmative action pro- gress belongs to the present Counc i1 as well as to staff. If Counc i1 had pursued and made this priority clear, she said, "we would not be faced with this dismal failure." Mrs. Beal moved seconded by Mr. Murray that the Council go e on record once again as giving a high priority to affirmative action within the city to women, minorities, handicapped, and ag ing, and that it instruct staff to adopt this high priority as policy. Mr. Murray pointed out that affirmative action should not have to be established as a priority, because it is law. He went on to say that the reportls tardiness is frustrating and cause for alarm. He felt that the December 7 report from the City Manager to the Mayor and City Council, addressing the concerns of the Commissions, has helped to answer some of the questions. However, the discrepancies which the Commissions allege are in the report leave the Council "in.a hopeless muddle of gobbledegoop." He hopes that the Commission reports are instructive for staff. Mr. Haws wondered what would happen now--are there steps in writing to be be followed for future reports. Manager responded that many affirmative actions have been taken which do not appear in the 1974-75 report. It is his hope that the differences can be reconciled before coming back to Council with the 1975-76 report. Assistant City Manager said that the format used in the 1974-75 report was one selected by the former Human e- 12/13/76 - 14 5"8 -------