City of Springfield, MA Article XIV Human Relations Commission

[Adopted 1-21-1993 (Title 2, Ch. 2.90, of the 1986 Code)]

§ 16-35 Establishment; organization; function.

[Amended 5-19-1999]

A. There shall be in the City a commission to be known as the "Human Relations Commission," referred to in this article as the "Commission," which will consist of nine persons, appointed by the Mayor, who shall be residents of the City. In the year of commencement, the Mayor shall appoint the nine members for the following terms of service:

(1) Four persons, including the Chairperson, shall be appointed for the term of three years.

(2) Three persons shall be appointed for the term of two years.

(3) Two persons shall be appointed for the term of one year.

B. All new appointments and reappointments shall be for a three-year term of service. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment, and each Commissioner shall serve without compensation.

C. The Mayor shall designate one of the members of the Commission as Chairperson.

D. All members of the Commission shall serve with the right of formal vote.

§ 16-36 Powers and duties; meetings.

A. The City Human Relations Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, and its function shall be to promote understanding, improve intergroup relations, and advance the objective of creating a more united community reflecting a climate of respect between all people in the public and private sectors.

B. The goal of the Human Relations Commission shall be that in the City of Springfield all citizens shall enjoy:

(1) Equal protection of the law and full rights and privileges of citizenship for all people;

(2) Full equality of opportunity in the total economic, political and cultural life in the community;

(3) Improved communication, understanding and cooperation between and among all the diverse groups that comprise our community; and

(4) Equal employment opportunity in all departments and levels of government and equal services available to all citizens.

C. The Commission Chairperson, in consultation with the Mayor and with the approval of a simple majority of the Commissioners present, may appoint appropriate subcommittees, such as housing, employment, media, and public safety. The Commission Chairperson shall appoint one Commissioner to chair each such subcommittee. Subcommittees shall consist of no fewer than five persons. The Commission Chairperson may appoint subcommittee members at large from the community. The function of each subcommittee shall be to make recommendations to the Commission on issues determined by Commission Chairperson in consultation with the other Commissioners, in accordance with the goals outlined in Subsections A and B.

D. The Human Relations Commission shall meet at least once per month, and otherwise as needed. Minutes of all meetings of the Commission shall be submitted to the Mayor. All issues proposed for inclusion on the Commission agenda shall be consistent with the goals outlined in this article, and shall be submitted in writing to the Chairperson no later than three days before the scheduled meeting. The rule may be waived by a majority of the Commissioners present at the meeting. The final decision on inclusion of items on the agenda shall be the responsibility of the Commission Chairperson.