Southtowns Record

4/21/26 Board Packet

Government
Village of Gowanda
Board
Village Board
Meeting
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
Agenda packet
Topics
Public safety, Budget and taxes, Water, sewer and drainage, Parks and recreation, Audits and oversight, Roads and traffic, Zoning and land use

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 35 of 141

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Reporting Sexual Harassment

 Preventing sexual harassment is everyone’s responsibility. The Village of Gowanda cannot
 prevent or remedy. sexual harassment unless it knows about it. Any employee, paid or unpaid
  intern
 or non-employee who has been subjected to behavior that may constitute sexual harassment is
 encouraged to report such behavior to the Village Treasurer or Mayor. Anyone who witnesses
  or
 becomes aware of potential instances of sexual harassment should report such behavior to
  the
 Village Treasurer or Mayor.

 Reports of sexual harassment may be made verbally or in writing. A form for submission of a written
 complaint is attached to this Policy, and all employees are encouraged to use this complaint form.
 Employees who are reporting sexual harassment on behalf of other employees should use the
 complaint form and note that it is on another employee's behalf.

 Employees, paid or unpaid interns or non-employees who believe they have been a target of sexual
 harassment may also seek assistance in other available forums, as explained below in the section on
 Legal Protections.

  Supervisory Responsibilities
All supervisors and managers who receive a complaint or information about suspected sexual
harassment, observe what may be sexually harassing behavior or for any reason suspect that sexual
harassment is occurring, are required to report such suspected sexual harassment to
  the Village
‘Treasurer or Mayor.  In addition to being subject to discipline if they engaged in sexually harassing
conduct themselves, supervisors and managers will be subject to discipline for failing to report
suspected sexual harassment or otherwise knowingly allowing sexual harassment to continue.

Supervisors and managers will also be subject to discipline for engaging in any retaliation
  ,

  Complaint and Investigation of Sexual Harassment
All complaints or information about sexual harassment will be investigated, whether that informati
  on
was reported in verbal or written form. Investigations will be conducted in a timely manner,
  and will be
confidential to the extent possible.

An investigation of any complaint, information or knowledge of suspected sexual
  harassment will be
prompt and thorough, commenced immediately and completed as soon as possible. The
  investigation
will be kept confidential to the extent possible. All persons involved, including
  complainants,
witnesses and alleged harassers will be accorded due process, as outlined below, to protect
  their
rights to a fair and impartial investigation.

Any employee may be required to cooperate as needed in an investigation of suspecte
  d sexual
harassment. The Village of Gowanda will not tolerate retaliation against employees who
  file
complaints, support another’s complaint or participate in an investigation regardin
  g a violation of this
policy.

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