[Adopted by Ord. No. 1973-5; amended by Ord. No. 1979-13 (Sec.
2-23 of the 2003 Revised General Ordinances)]
The Township Council finds that prejudice and the practice of
discrimination against any individual or group because of race, creed,
color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry,
age, marital status or gender menaces peace and public welfare; that
to eliminate such bias, prejudice, and discrimination, an instrumentality
should be established through which the citizens of the Township may
be kept informed of developments in human relations, the officials
and departments of the Township may obtain expert advice and assistance
in promoting practices to keep peace and good order, and private individuals
and groups may be officially encouraged to promote tolerance and good
will toward all people.
Attendance at Commission meetings is important. Commission members
who fail to attend three consecutive meetings or who are absent for
six consecutive weeks, whichever is longer, in a calendar year may
forfeit their appointment, unless the member has been unable to attend
due to illness or has been excused on the basis of advance written
notification provided to the Chairperson. Recommendation for removal
from the Commission shall be forwarded to the Township Council and
the Township Manager. It is the responsibility of all Commission members
to notify either the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of their anticipated
absence from a regular Commission meeting. Telephone or facsimile
notification shall be deemed acceptable. Commission liaisons (Council,
School Board, police) are expected to attend at least on a quarterly
basis.
The Commission shall be composed of 15 residents of the Township,
reflecting the diversity of the population, serving without compensation.
Of the membership, one shall be a member of Township Council and one
of the Township Board of Education, each to be appointed by the respective
public body. In addition, one member shall be a member of the Township
Police Department, to be appointed by the Township Manager. There
shall also be 12 members at large, six of whom shall be appointed
by the Township Council and six by the Township Manager. The appointees
shall be called "Commissioners." The Commissioners shall annually
designate the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary of the Commission
and shall fill such other offices as they may determine. The Township
Manager and the members of the Township Council shall have the full
right to attend all meetings of the Commission and to participate
in all discussions, debates and business of the Commission.
All representative appointments shall be for a term of one year.
The Human Relations Commission shall:
A.
Advocate harmonious relations among all individuals and groups; foster,
through community effort or otherwise, good will, cooperation and
conciliation among the groups and elements of the inhabitants of the
community; and make recommendations to the Township Manager and Council
for the development of policies and procedures and programs of formal
and informal education that will aid and eliminate all types of discrimination.
B.
Serve as an advisory body to the Township Council to recommend legislative
action as may be appropriate to effectuate the policy of this article
and meet with the Township Council at least biannually.
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 groups, as well as persons
representing various economic, educational, and social interests in
all geographical 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 designed
to bring about better human relations.
E.
Investigate and study complaints, problems and specific situations
arising among groups or individuals which result or may result in
tensions, discrimination, 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.
Assist with the affirmative marketing of residential properties within
the community.
G.
Upon request from the Township Council, the Township Manager, the
Municipal Court or the parties involved, investigate and arbitrate
private sector affirmative action complaints.
H.
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.
I.
Serve as the facilitator for intergroup dialogue as an important
means of developing mutual understanding between the different groups
of our Township.
J.
Make an annual report to the Township Manager and the Council of
its activities.
A.
Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the Commission shall take place
monthly.
B.
Special meetings. Special meetings may be called at any time, upon
the request of the Chairperson. With a written request of any five
Commissioners, the Chairperson shall convene a special meeting. The
time and place of all special meetings shall be designated in the
call to the meeting. Efforts shall be made to contact all Commission
persons of a special meeting. Upon calling a special meeting to order,
the Chairperson's report shall include the number of members
actually contacted and advised of a special meeting.
C.
Notice. Written notice of all regular Commission meetings shall be
included in the minutes and sent to Commission members one week prior
to meeting.
D.
Quorum. A minimum of eight members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business.
