Township Passes Resolution That Amends Anti-Harassment Policies

Matthew Hersh

In a unanimous vote, the Princeton Township Committee adopted an updated resolution for its anti-harassment policy. All Township administrators, personnel, police and emergency response teams will be required to take part in harassment sensitivity training.

The resolution amended an existing policy whose purpose was to keep harassment from the workplace and "provide procedures for reporting, investigating, and resolving complaints of harassment," according to the text of the policy. The amended policy maintains the existing policy's objectives, updates the complaint procedures, and requires all Township emplo- yees to take part in six sensitivity-training seminars.

The policy of Princeton Township condemns any type of harassment on the basis of age, race, sex, disability, national origin, religion, ancestry, and/or sexual orientation.

"Every single person had a fantastic response to the training," said Mitzie Fiume- nero, of the Office of the Township Administrator. The seminars, led by Karen F. Wright, sought to increase awareness to comments or behavior that could be construed as inappropriate or unprofessional in the workplace. The policy says that harassment includes "slurs; epithets; threats; unwelcome phone calls; derogatory comments; unwelcome jokes; teasing; sexual innuendo; unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; and other similar verbal or physical conduct."

Ms. Fiumenero said that the purpose of the seminars was to give Township employees a better understanding of each other. Personnel were trained to exhibit objectivity when dealing with others. Ms. Fiumenero, who is white, outlined one of the exercises that involved race and how it affects different people.

"[Ms. Wright] had all of us thinking and talking about race. I rarely think about my race, but I realize that it is a more day-to-day issue with minorities," she added, "it was very enlightening."

The policy stresses that no retaliatory measures be taken in the event of an incident, and that all complaints should be reported to ma- nagement level or the department head. The result would be an "immediate investigation of the claim," according to the policy, and the department head would have five days to submit a written, confidential report to the Township Administrator, James Pascale.

Failure to make a report within the five-day window would result in disciplinary action.

Ms. Fiumenero said that while the seminars were "enlightening, entertaining, and informative," it is standard procedure for the Township to carry out these training programs once every few years and that the training was not designed in response to one particular occurrence.

"No specific event led up to the training," she said.