There is hereby created a Pawtucket Commission
for Human Rights which shall consist of five members appointed by
the Mayor with the approval of the City Council and to serve without
compensation, who are broadly representative of the racial, religious,
handicapped, age and ethnic groups of the community. Of the five members
first appointed, two shall be appointed for one year, two for two
years and one for three years; thereafter all appointments to the
Commission shall be for a term of three years. In the event of the
death or resignation of any member, his or her successor shall be
appointed to serve for the unexpired period of the term for which
such member had been appointed. The members shall elect a Chairperson,
a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary.
The functions of the Commission shall be to:
A. Foster mutual understanding and respect among all
racial, religious, handicapped, age and ethnic groups in the City
of Pawtucket.
B. Encourage equality of treatment for and to recommend
methods and procedures to prevent discrimination against any racial,
religious, age, handicapped or ethnic group or its members, particularly
in the fields of housing, employment, education and accommodations,
as may be useful to promote decent human relations and the full realization
of American citizenship.
C. Cooperate with governmental and nongovernmental agencies
and organizations having like or kindred functions and to assist in
investigations and studies in the field of human relations as in the
judgment of the Commission will aid in effectuating its general purposes.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall
be to:
A. Work together with the Rhode Island Commission for
Human Rights and any city agencies in developing courses of instruction,
for presentation to city employees and others in public and private
schools, public libraries, museums and other suitable places, on techniques
for achieving harmonious intergroup relations with the City of Pawtucket.
B. Enlist the cooperation of the various racial, religious,
age, handicapped and ethnic groups, community organizations, labor
organizations, fraternal and benevolent associations and other groups
in Pawtucket in programs and campaigns devoted to eliminating group
prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination.
C. Study the problems of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry,
discrimination and disorder occasioned thereby in all or any fields
of human relationship.
D. Receive and forward to the Rhode Island Commission
for Human Rights complaints of racial, religious, ethnic, handicapped
and age group tensions, prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and disorder
occasioned thereby and discrimination against any person, group of
persons, organization or corporation, whether practiced by private
persons, associations, corporations, and after consultation with the
Mayor, by city officials or city agencies. The Commission shall assist
the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights in investigating complaints
as described herein.
E. Issue publications based upon research designed to
promote good will and to minimize or eliminate prejudice, intolerance,
bigotry, discrimination and disorder occasioned thereby.
F. Promote the establishment of local community organizations,
consisting of representatives of different groups in such community,
to plan and carry out educational programs in such community.
G. Recommend to the Mayor and to the City Council state
legislation to aid in carrying out the purposes of this article.
H. Submit an annual report to the Mayor and the City
Council.
No person shall be named in any Commission report
or investigation unless such person has been afforded an opportunity
to be heard before said Commission and the right to examine and cross-examine
witnesses. Until such time as a hearing is convened before the Rhode
Island Commission for Human Rights, the Commission nor any of its
members, nor staff, nor the complainant or respondent shall give any
public notice of any charge before it. As used in this section, "public
notice" shall mean any oral or written statement to the press, broadcasting
media or disinterested groups or individuals.
So far as practicable and subject to the approval
of the Mayor, the services of all other city departments and agencies
shall be made available by their respective heads to the Commission
for the carrying out of the functions herein stated. The head of any
department or agency shall furnish information in the possession of
such department or agency when the Commission, after consultations
with the Mayor, so requests.