It is the policy of the County to foster, maintain and promote equal employment opportunity. The County shall select employees on the basis of the applicant's qualifications for the job and award them, with respect to compensation and opportunity for training and advancement, including upgrading and promotion, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, qualified disability, or age. Applicants with disabilities shall be given equal consideration with other applicants for positions in which their disabilities do not represent an unreasonable barrier to satisfactory performance of duties.