ADA Compliance

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH DISABILITIES

The Town Council of the Town of Richmond hereby adopts the following policy regarding accommodations for employees and members of the public with disabilities.

1.PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide reasonable policies and procedures that will ensure:

a) Equal opportunities for disabled persons to participate in and benefit from services, programs, or activities sponsored by the Town;

b) A bias-free environment for disabled employees and for disabled persons who seek employment with the town; and

c) Prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of a disability.

2.STATEMENT OF POLICY

The Town of Richmond does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, or disability in employment or the provision of services. It is the intent of the Town to guarantee disabled persons an equal opportunity to benefit from Town services, programs, and activities, and to provide a bias-free work environment for disabled employees. Upon request, the Town will provide reasonable accommodation in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

To make its facilities and services accessible to the public, the Town will provide:

a) Auxiliary aids and services (interpreters, readers, assisted listening devices, text telephones, large print materials, audio tape, assistance in filling out forms, and other similar services and actions) if they are requested and can be provided without undue hardship to the Town. The Town will attempt to provide the particular auxiliary aid or service requested.

b) An accessible work environment that includes, as necessary, additional accommodations, including auxiliary aids and services. Personnel practices, including but not limited to hiring, training, testing, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefits, and termination, will be administered in such manner as to avoid discrimination against disabled employees.

c) Non-discriminatory recruitment and selection of employees. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request for applications and interviews.

The Town is committed to providing disabled persons with an equal opportunity to serve on boards and commissions. Meetings will be held in accessible locations and auxiliary aids will be provided if requested.

All requests for accommodations and auxiliary aids and services should be made through Marcy Alves, the Town ADA Coordinator, at 401-539-9000 x4, taxcollector2@richmondri.com.

All future construction and renovation of Town-owned buildings and facilities will be carried out in accordance with current ADA accessibility best practices.

3.GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Complaints concerning accommodations for disabled persons will be handled in the following manner.

a) A complaint may be filed orally or in writing and shall include the name and address of the person filing it or the person on whose behalf it is filed, and a brief description of the alleged ADA violation. The complaint shall be filed within twenty (20) calendar days of the day the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation. Complaints should be made to Marcy Alves, Town of Richmond ADA Coordinator, 5 Richmond Townhouse Road, Wyoming, RI 02898.

b) The ADA Coordinator or his or her designee shall investigate the complaint within ten (10) calendar days of the date it is filed. All interested persons or their representatives shall be given an opportunity to submit relevant information.

c) Within thirty (30) calendar days of the day the complaint was filed, the ADA Coordinator shall make a written determination about the validity of the complaint and how it should be resolved. A copy shall be mailed to the complainant.

d) The complainant may file a request for reconsideration of the ADA Coordinator’s determination within ten (10) calendar days of the day the complainant received a copy of that determination. The request for reconsideration shall be submitted to Karen Pinch, Richmond Town Administrator, 5 Richmond Townhouse Road, Wyoming, RI 02898.

e) The Town Administrator shall review the records of the complaint and may make a further investigation or consider additional information. The Town Administrator shall issue his or her written decision on the request for reconsideration within twenty (20) calendar days of the day the request for reconsideration was filed. A copy shall be mailed to the complainant.

f) The complainant may file a request for reconsideration of the Town Administrator’s determination within ten (10) calendar days of the day the complainant received a copy of that determination. The request for reconsideration shall be made to the Town Council, and shall be submitted to Sarah Rapose, Richmond Town Clerk, 5 Richmond Townhouse Road, Wyoming, RI 02898.

g) The Town Council shall review the records of the complaint and may make a further investigation or consider additional information. The Town Council shall issue its written decision within thirty (30) calendar days of the day the request for reconsideration was filed. A copy of the decision shall be mailed to the complainant.

h) The complainant shall have the right to pursue other remedies concurrently with or subsequent to the Town’s investigation and resolution of a complaint. The complainant’s pursuit of other remedies shall not affect the Town’s prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint.

4. CONSTRUCTION

These regulations shall be construed in a manner that protects the substantive rights of interested persons, meets appropriate due process standards, and complies with the relevant state and federal law.