The authority for this chapter is conferred
by Article 12D of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.
This chapter shall be known as the "Commission
on Human Rights."
The Town Board of the Town of Grand Island,
pursuant to the authority as above stated, does hereby create and
establish a Commission on Human Rights.
This Commission shall be composed of five persons,
all who shall be residents of the Town of Grand Island, who shall
be appointed by the Town Board.
Said members of this Commission shall serve
without compensation.
Of the members of the board first appointed,
one shall hold office for the term of one year, one for the term of
two years, one for the term of three years, one for the term of four
years, one for the term of five years, from and after his appointment.
Their successors shall be appointed for the term of five years from
and after the expiration of the term of their predecessors in office.
If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by expiration of term, it
shall be filled by the Town Board by appointment for the unexpired
term. The Town Board shall have the power to remove any member of
the Commission for cause and after public hearing. Any member of said
Commission may succeed himself.
The Commission on Human Rights shall have the
power to adopt bylaws and rules and regulations necessary for the
proper conduct of its authorized duties for the Town. Said Commission,
after appointment, shall elect a Chairman and such other officers
as may be necessary. All meetings of said Commission shall be held
at the call of the Chairman. Such Commission shall keep minutes of
its meetings, showing the vote of each member upon every question,
and shall also keep records of all official action.
It shall be the duty of the Commission:
A. To foster mutual respect and understanding among all
racial, religious and nationality groups in the community.
B. To make such studies in any field of human relationship
in the community as in the judgment of the Commission will aid in
effectuating its general purposes.
C. To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict
among or between various racial, religious and nationality groups,
and to take such action as may be designed to alleviate such tensions
and conflict. Upon completion of an inquiry, the Commission will report
to the Town Board.
D. To conduct and recommend such educational programs
as, in the judgment of the Commission, will increase goodwill among
inhabitants of the community and open new opportunities into all phases
of community life for all inhabitants.
E. To submit
meeting minutes to the Town Board after any meeting of the Commission.
The Commission shall discharge the following
obligations:
A. To receive complaints of alleged discrimination because
of race, creed, color or national origin, to seek the active assistance
of the state commission for human rights in the solution of complaints
which fall within the jurisdiction of the state commission and to
prepare its own plans in the case of other complaints with a view
to reducing and eliminating such alleged discrimination through the
process of conference, conciliation and persuasion.
B. To hold conferences, and other public meetings in
the interest of the constructive resolution of racial, religious and
nationality group tensions and the prejudice and discrimination occasioned
thereby.
Said Commission may accept any grant or device
of real estate or any gift or bequest of money or other personal property
or any donation to be applied — principal or income — for
either temporary or permanent use for the Commission. If the use,
however, for such purpose will subject the municipality to expense
for improvement, maintenance or renewal, the use of any grant or device
of real estate shall be approved by the Town Board. Monies received
for such purpose, unless otherwise provided for in the terms of the
gift or bequest, shall be deposited with the Supervisor of the Town
of Grand Island to the account of the Human Rights Commission, and
the same may be withdrawn and paid out in the same manner as money
appropriated for Commission purposes.
Said Commission shall make a monthly report
to the Town Board via the Supervisor setting forth a complete statement
of all financial transactions for the preceding month. Such Commission
shall also make a biannual report to the Town Board of all programs
accomplished, programs in progress and programs under consideration.
The first biannual report to be due July 1, 1965, and every six months
thereafter.
Said Commission shall continue in accordance
with the procedure established above; provided, however, that the
Town Board shall have the power and authority to abolish said Commission
without notice by majority resolution.