As part of the decree – which remains subject to the court s oversight for three years –the town promises not to interfere with the development or purchase of homes based on the buyers religion or familial status. It also pledges to adopt no housing laws or policies or make any decisions about housing projects that discriminate on that basis.
The steps the town must take are fairly minor. Town Board members and certain town employees must take a training class on fair-housing rules each year. The town also must name one official or employee to be Chester s fair housing compliance officer, and post its fair housing policy and links to state and federal agencies on its website.