Township of Pemberton, NJ Article V Human Relations Commission

[Adopted 5-16-1980 by Ord. No. 13-1980]

§ 5-11 Establishment.

There is hereby established in and for the Township of Pemberton a body of citizens to be known as the "Pemberton Township Human Relations Commission."

§ 5-12 Declaration of policy.

The Township Committee finds that the practice of discrimination against any individual or individual's ancestry, age, sex, political affiliation or marital status does not promote general peace and harmony within the Township nor reflect the best interests of the Township or its residents. In order to identify and work towards the elimination of such prejudice and discrimination, an instrumentality should be established through which the citizens may be informed of Township human relation's developments, persons or groups may seek advice or assistance, Township officials and/or departments may obtain necessary advice or assistance and encouragement of peace and harmony will be promoted for the good of the Township.

§ 5-13 Membership.

A. The Commission shall be composed of 11 members who are residents of the Township, serving without compensation. One member shall be a member of the Township Board of Education, to be recommended by that respective body and appointed by the Township Committee, and one shall be a member of the Township Police Department, to be recommended by the Township Administrator and appointed by the Township Committee. There shall also be nine members-at-large, to be appointed by the Township Committee.

B. The members shall be referred to as "Commissioners." The Commissioners shall annually designate their respective Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary of the Commission and shall fill such other offices as may be necessary.

C. The Township Committee and the Township Administrator shall have the full right to attend any and all meetings of the Commission and to participate in any and all discussions, debates and/or business of the Commission.

§ 5-14 Terms of office.

A. Both representative appointments shall be for a term of two years or until their membership on the representative body shall terminate, whichever shall first occur.

B. All members-at-large shall be appointed for a term of three years, with three members appointed for a term of three years, three members appointed for a term of two years and three members appointed for a term of one year. All succeeding appointments of members-at-large shall be for a term of three years. Any appointed member failing to be present for three consecutive meetings of the Human Relations Commission shall be deemed to have resigned from the Commission, and that position shall be declared vacant and available for a new appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

C. Two of the three appointments made each year shall be made by the Township Committee and the third appointment shall be made by the Mayor. All subsequent appointments, due to expiration of term or vacation of term, shall be made in this same manner for such vacancy.

§ 5-15 Conduct of business.

The Commission is empowered to adopt necessary rules and procedures for the conduct of its business as it may determine within the limitations of all federal and state laws.

§ 5-16 Duties and functions.

The duties and functions of the Commission shall be to:

A. Foster, through community effort or otherwise, goodwill, cooperation and conciliation among the groups and elements of the citizens of the community, and make recommendations to the Township Administrator and Township Committee for the development of policies and procedures in general and for programs of formal and informal education that will aid and eliminate all types of discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, ancestry, age, national origin, sex, political affiliation or marital status.

B. Serve as an advisory body to the Township Council and recommend such legislative action as may be appropriate to effectuate the policy of this article.

C. Study problems in the Township relating to relationships among individuals and groups of all kinds and make recommendations for the betterment of such relations within the community.

D. Invite and enlist the cooperation of all racial, sexual, religious, ethnic, ancestral, generational and/or social groups, as well as persons representing various economic, educational and social groups in all areas of the Township, and act as a coordinating agency among these and other groups in the community in the establishment and maintenance of educational programs in the community designated to bring about better human relations.

E. Investigate and study complaints, problems and specific situations arising between groups or individuals which result or may result in tensions, discriminations or prejudice within the Township and offer its assistance in an attempt at conciliation or mediation of any problems that may arise in the community which violate the purposes of this article.

F. Investigate and mediate private sector affirmative action complaints when appropriate.

G. Cooperate with interested citizens and other units of government or any other agencies concerned with the purposes of this article, particularly the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety.

H. Make a comprehensive annual report to the Township Council and the Township Administrator concerning the activities, involvements and recommendations of the Commission.