It is the policy of the Town of Old Orchard Beach to provide persons with equal opportunity for employment. In order to achieve this policy goal, a concerted effort is being made to conduct the selection process for employees on the basis of planned, job-related procedures and criteria.
The interview process has therefore been structured to provide job-related guidelines for discussion and inquiry and should be followed. By its nature, however, the interview process is dynamic and freer flowing than structured written examinations. Candidates themselves may even initiate discussion topics. Nevertheless, the selection committee can strengthen the equity of its decision process by adhering to the structure which has been prepared and avoiding discussion in the areas outlined below:
- Age
- Gender
- Handicaps
- Marital Status
- Nationality
- Place of Birth
- Political Affiliation
- Race/Color
- Religious Orientation
- Sexual Orientation
Those things which are bona fide occupational qualifications are legitimate areas of inquiry and evaluation. With the possible exception of handicaps, however, the above list seems to present areas which should be completely avoided in this process. To the extent that physical performance issues are entailed in this job, the medical examination is a more appropriate step to which to make initial assessments.