[Code 1964, § 2-82]
A Commission on Human Relations is created which shall consist
of an Executive Director and an Advisory Board.
[Code 1964, § 2-86]
The provisions of this article shall be construed liberally
for the accomplishment of the purposes of the article. Nothing contained
in this article shall be deemed to repeal any of the provisions of
the Civil Rights Law or any other law of this state relating to discrimination
because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age or marital
status.
[Code 1964, §§ 2-82(A), 2-88]
(a)
The Executive Director of the Commission on Human Relations shall
be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of a majority of the Common
Council for a term of three years and shall meet the following basic
qualifications:
(1)
Although competitive examinations are not held for this position,
a candidate must meet one of the following requirements:
a.
Five years of satisfactory full-time paid experience in the
human relations field in such areas as community organization, social
group work, intergroup relations, education or public administration.
College graduation may be substituted for two years of the required
experience. College graduation with specialization in the social sciences
may be substituted for three years of the required experience.
b.
A master's degree in social work and three years' experience
as in Subparagraph (1)a of this section.
c.
Graduation from law school and three years of experience as
in Subparagraph (1)a of this section.
d.
Two years of experience in the practice of law, a substantial
part of which involved responsibility of a socio-legal nature.
(2)
Applicants must be physically able to perform efficiently the
duties of the position described in this article.
(b)
The salary of Executive Director shall be determined by the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment.
[Code 1964, § 2-84]
It shall be the duty of the Executive Director of the Commission
on Human Relations to:
(1)
Administer and direct the daily operation of the Commission.
(2)
Implement the duties and obligations of the Commission by an active
program which will bring about the aims and provisions of this article.
(3)
Meet with the Advisory Board on a regularly scheduled basis but not
less than once each month and to inform the Board of the problems
in human relations within the City.
(4)
Take such steps as are necessary and within the scope of the powers
granted to solve problems and to seek the advice of the Advisory Board
in making the Commission an effective means of combating discrimination
in the City.
[Code 1964, § 2-82(B)]
(a)
The Advisory Board of the Commission on Human Relations shall be
composed of 12 members of the City at large on a volunteer basis.
Six members of the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor without the
consent of the Common Council, and six members shall be appointed
by a majority vote of the Common Council. The term of office of each
member of the Board shall be for three years and until a successor
has taken office; provided, however, that of the first members first
appointed by both the Mayor and the Common Council, two shall be for
a term of one year, two shall be for a term of two years, and two
shall be for a term of three years.
(b)
A majority of the members of the Board may remove a member of the
Board, upon due notice, after the unexcused or unreasonable absence
of the Board member for three consecutive meetings. The vacancy created
by the removal shall be filled by the Common Council if the removed
Board member was appointed by the Common Council or shall be filled
by the Mayor if the removed Board member was a mayoral appointee.
[Code 1964, § 2-85]
It shall be the duties of the Advisory Board of the Commission
on Human Relations to:
(1)
Meet with the Executive Director on a regularly scheduled basis but
not less than once each month to discuss the various problems within
the field of human relations that exist within the City.
(2)
Help implement the program of the Executive Director to accomplish
the aims and purposes of this article.
(3)
Aid the Executive Director in creating a favorable climate of opinion
within the City in order to foster among the many diverse groups of
the community a feeling of mutual esteem, justice, equity and respect
for the customs, traditions and beliefs of each individual group.
[Code 1964, § 2-83]
It shall be the duty of the Commission on Human Relations to:
(1)
Foster mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious
and nationality groups in the City.
(2)
Make such studies in any field of human relationships in the City
as, in the judgment of the Commission, will aid in effectuating its
general purposes and, where desirable, to make the results of such
studies public.
(3)
Inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among and between
various racial, religious and nationality groups and to take such
action as, within the scope and purpose of this article, will alleviate
such tensions and conflict.
(4)
Conduct and recommend such educational programs as, in the judgment
of the Commission, will increase goodwill among the inhabitants of
the City and open new opportunities into all phases of community life
for all inhabitants.
(5)
Receive complaints of alleged discrimination because of race, creed,
color, national origin, sex, age or marital status; 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 prepare its own plans in the case of other complaints with a view
to reducing and eliminating the alleged discrimination through the
process of conferences, conciliation and persuasion.
(6)
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.
(7)
Issue such publications and general reports as, in its judgment,
will tend to effectuate the purpose of this article.
(8)
Enlist the cooperation and participation of the various racial, religious
and nationality groups, community organizations, industry and labor
relations, media or mass communications, paternal and benevolent associations
and other groups in an educational campaign devoted to fostering among
the diverse groups in the community mutual esteem, justice and equity.
(9)
Submit an annual report to the Mayor and the Common Council.
(10)
Encourage and stimulate City agencies to take action as will
fulfill the purposes of Article 12-D [§ 239-0 et seq.] of
the General Municipal Law.
