The Board of Trustees of the Village of Monticello, New York,
hereby declares it to be the policy of the Village of Monticello,
State of New York, in order to help secure equal opportunity in the
Village of Monticello to all, irrespective of race, creed, ethnicity,
color, religion, handicap or national origin, it is in the best interest
of the citizens of the Village of Monticello to create and provide
for the appointment of a Commission on Human Rights.
The members of the Village of Monticello Commission on Human
Rights shall serve without compensation. The Village Board, however,
may appropriate in the annual budget of the Village a sum of money
for the purpose of providing to the Commission on Human Rights funds
to defray the costs and expenses incurred by it in the performance
of its duties set forth hereafter, such appropriation to be a charge
upon the taxable property of the Village of Monticello.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to:
A. Foster mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious,
handicapped and nationality groups in the community.
B. 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 and, where desirable, to make such studies public.
C. Inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between various
racial, religious, ethnic, handicapped and nationality groups and
to take such action as may be designed to alleviate such tensions
and conflict.
D. 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.
The Commission on Human Rights shall discharge the following
obligations:
A. Receive complaints of alleged discrimination because of race, creed,
color, ethnicity, handicap or national origin, seek the active assistance
of the New York State Division of Human Rights in the solution of
complaints which fall within the jurisdiction of the state Division
and 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. Hold conferences and other public meetings in the interest of the
constructive resolution of racial, ethnic, religious and nationality
group tensions and the prejudice and discrimination occasioned thereby.
C. Issue such publications and reports of investigation as in its judgment
will tend to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
D. Enlist the cooperation and participation of the various racial, religious,
ethnic, handicap and nationality groups, community organizations,
industry and labor organizations, media or mass communication, fraternal
and benevolent associations and other groups in an educational campaign
devoted to fostering among the diverse groups of the community mutual
esteem, justice and equity and, further, devoted to informing all
of the Village of Monticello's firm commitment to the principle
of equal opportunity for all.
E. Encourage and stimulate all departments of Village government to
take such action as will fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
F. Report complaints to the Division of Human Rights alleging unlawful
discriminatory practices under Article 15 of the Executive Law.
G. Receive, accept, use and expend public grants and private gifts,
donations, or bequests and other payments, goods and services.