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Legislature adopts updated Title VI nondiscrimination policy; staff to stand up complaint program
Summary
After a staff presentation and floor debate about preserving older legislative language, the Tompkins County Legislature approved a revised nondiscrimination policy (policy 11‑39) to meet federal Title VI requirements. The vote was 11 ayes, 1 no; staff will publish a complaint form and implementation materials online.
The legislature voted to adopt a revised county nondiscrimination policy, intended to meet federal Title VI obligations and create a countywide compliance program. "Title 6 ... provides that no person shall be denied benefits or shall be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal dollars," said Paul Younger, deputy county administrator, introducing the policy and accompanying implementation plan.
Debate centered on preserving the spirit of the county's earlier 1993 nondiscrimination statement and whether to explicitly list additional protected categories. Legislator Leslyn McBean Clairborne moved a friendly amendment to include "ex‑offender status" in the legislative policy statement; staff said the policy language also covers "any other status protected by law." The motion to adopt, with the agreed changes and implementation steps (department coordinators, online complaint form), passed on roll call: 11 ayes, 1 no.
