Bellevue has adopted a new, more encompassing, anti-discrimination policy, but perhaps not completely.

Council voted Tuesday to adopt an Ordinance amending the personnel code to clarify that "Bellevue Borough is an equal opportunity employer whose non-discrimination policy extends to matters of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, religious affiliation and disability."

Council member Linda Woshner pointed out, however, that the borough's home rule charter also contains an anti-discrimination policy, which now does not coincide wih the language of the personnelcode. The home rule charter cannot be amended by ordinance, but only through an election ballot referendum.

Borough solicitor Tom McDermott said that the charter was not really being changed because the borough was adding protected classes rather than removing them. Woshner disputed this position, stating that council was in fact changing the language of the charter.

Despite the discussion, the motion to adopt the ordinance was approved in a unanimous vote.