[Ord. 701, 2/10/1969, § 1; as amended by Ord. 1296,
9/9/2013]
1.
The practice or policy of discrimination against individuals or groups
by reason of their race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national
origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial
status, marital status, age, mental and physical disability, and use
of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids is a matter of
concern to the Borough of Bristol. Such discrimination foments domestic
strife and unrest, threatens rights and privileges of the Borough
of Bristol and undermines the foundations of a free democratic state.
The denial of equal employment, housing, public accommodation, and
educational opportunities because of such discrimination, and the
consequent failure to utilize productive capabilities of individuals
to their fullest extent, deprives large segments of the population
of the Borough of Bristol of earnings necessary to maintain decent
standards of living, necessitates their resort to public relief, and
intensifies group conflicts, thereby posing a grave threat to public
health and welfare, compels many individuals to reside in dwellings
which are substandard and overcrowded, gives rise to racial segregation
in public schools and other community facilities, contributes to such
social deterioration as makes for juvenile delinquency and crime,
and, overall jeopardizes the peace, safety, and general wellbeing
of the Borough of Bristol.
2.
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the Borough of Bristol
to foster the employment of all individuals in accordance with their
highest skills regardless of their race, color, religious creed, ancestry,
national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
familial status, marital status, age, mental and physical disability,
and use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids, and to
safeguard their right to obtain and hold employment without such discrimination;
to assure equal opportunities to all individuals and safeguard their
rights at places of public accommodation, in securing adequate housing,
and earning admission to institutions of learning, regardless of race,
color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, age,
mental and physical disability, and use of guide or support animals
and/or mechanical aids.
3.
This Subpart shall be deemed an exercise of the police powers of
the Borough of Bristol, for the protection of the public welfare,
prosperity, health, and peace of the people of the Borough of Bristol.
[Ord. 701, 2/10/1969, § 2]
There is hereby established the Bristol Borough Human Relations
Commission, which shall consist of seven members. The members of the
Commission shall be appointed by the President of Borough Council
with the consent of the Borough Council. In the first instance, four
members of the said Commission shall be appointed each for the term
of three years; two members shall be appointed each for the term of
two years; one member shall be appointed for the term of one year.
Annually, thereafter, members sufficient in number to maintain the
said Commission at seven members shall be appointed for the term of
three years each. An appointment to fill a casual vacancy shall be
only for the unexpired term of the vacating member, and such vacancy
shall be filled thereafter in the same manner as the original appointment.
The members of the Borough Human Relations Commission shall serve
without compensation. Any four members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum.
[Ord. 701, 2/10/1969, § 3; as amended by Ord. 1296,
9/9/2013]
1.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A.
To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations effectuating
the policies and provisions of this Part 5B.
C.
To issue such publications and results of investigations and research
as, in its judgment, will tend to promote goodwill and minimize or
eliminate discrimination because of race, color, religious creed,
ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, familial status, marital status, age, mental and physical
disability, and use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical
aids.
D.
To prepare and execute a comprehensive educational program designed
to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based upon race, color,
religious creed, ancestry, or national origin.
E.
From time to time, but not less often than annually, to render a
written report to the Borough Council describing in detail the investigations,
activities, recommendations, and affirmative action programs undertaken;
to make recommendations for the employment of administrative personnel
and other procedures looking up to the increased effectiveness of
its efforts.
F.
The Borough Solicitor shall serve as legal advisor to the Commission.
[Ord. 701, 2/10/1969, § 4]
The Commission is empowered, subject to review and consent by
the Borough Council, to enter into memoranda of understanding with
federal and state agencies engaged in implementing federal and state
legislation in the area of nondiscriminatory human relations and with
Human Relations Commissions of other municipalities.
