(1) The town is an equal employment opportunity employer. The town employs, retains, promotes, terminates and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. This policy shall be applied without regard to any individual’s sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, medical condition, physical handicap or disability.

(2) The town will not discriminate against applicants or employees with a sensory, physical or mental impairment, unless the impairment cannot be reasonably accommodated and prevents proper performance of an essential element of the job.

(3) Employees with life-threatening illness, such as cancer, heart disease, or AIDS/HIV conditions, or communicable diseases such as tuberculosis or influenza, are treated the same as all other employees. They are permitted to continue working so long as they are able to maintain an acceptable level of performance and medical evidence shows they are not a threat to themselves or their coworkers. The town will work to preserve the safety of all of its employees and reserves the right to reassign employees or take other job actions when a substantial and unusual safety risk to fellow town employees or the public exists. (Ord. 518 § 2, 2009)