[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Framingham 1-5-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-006 as Art. II, Sec. 12, of the General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There shall be a Human Relations Commission of 13 members who are residents of the City of Framingham and shall serve three-year terms. The membership of the Commission shall be broadly representative of the community in such areas as housing, employment, and education, and representative of the several religious faiths and racial groups.
The purpose of the Commission shall be to deal with the causes of intergroup disunity which underlie the urban crisis, including, but not limited to, the elimination of conditions of bias discrimination and prejudice against minority groups, and to establish affirmative action programs to ensure equal enforcement of law, and equal protection of law, for all groups regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, status as an active member of the armed forces of the United States, or any other protected class recognized under state or federal law ("protected class status").
The duties and functions are as follows:
A. 
The Commission shall advise and consult with the Mayor on all matters involving prejudice or discrimination due to any protected class status.
B. 
The Commission shall render an annual report to the Mayor and the Council.
C. 
The Commission shall invite and encourage the cooperation of racial, religious and ethnic groups, community organizations, labor and business organizations, veterans' organizations, and other groups in the City of Framingham in carrying on its work. The Commission may aid in the formation of local community groups in such neighborhoods as it may deem necessary or desirable to carry out specific programs designed to lessen tensions or improve understanding in the community.
D. 
The Commission shall request and obtain such cooperation, assistance and data from City departments as may be reasonably necessary to carry out its work.
E. 
The Commission shall receive and investigate complaints of tensions, practices of discrimination and acts of prejudice against any person or group because of any protected class status and may conduct public hearings with regard thereto; obtain factual data and conduct public hearings to ascertain the status and treatment of the diverse minority groups in the City; and shall make recommendations as to the best means of progressively improving human relations in the City, and publish its findings of fact and recommendations in accordance with this chapter.
A. 
A complaint charging that any person has engaged or is engaging in any discriminatory practice may be made by the Commission itself or by an aggrieved individual. The term "person" as used in this chapter shall include one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, and the City and any of its departments, divisions, boards, officials, agents and employees. A complaint must be filed with the Commission within 45 days after the alleged discrimination.
B. 
The Commission shall make a prompt and full investigation of each complaint of all such unlawful practices as defined in MGL c. 151B, § 4.
C. 
If the Commission determines after investigation that probable cause exists for the allegations made in the complaint, the Commission may hold a public hearing to determine whether or not a discriminatory practice has been committed. The Commission shall serve upon the person charged, hereinafter referred to as the "respondent," by registered mail, a statement of the charges made in the complaint and a notice of the time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall be held not less than 10 days after the serving of the statement of charges. The respondent shall have the right to file an answer to the charges, to appear at the hearing in person or to be represented by an attorney or any other person, and to examine and cross-examine witnesses and to present evidence in their own behalf.
D. 
If, upon all the evidence presented, the Commission finds that the person charged with the complaint has not engaged or is not engaging in any discriminatory practice, it shall state its findings of fact and dismiss the complaint. If, upon all the evidence presented, the Commission finds the respondent has engaged or is engaging in a discriminatory practice, it shall attempt to eliminate the discrimination by means of conciliation and persuasion. The Commission shall not make public the details of any conciliation proceedings unless required by law so to do, but it may publish the terms of conciliation when a complaint has been satisfactorily adjusted without identification of the parties. If the Commission is unable to eliminate the discrimination by means of conciliation and persuasion, it shall state its findings of fact and shall issue recommendations as the facts warrant.