[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Peekskill 3-9-1964 by L.L. No. 1-1964 (Ch. 44 of the 1984 Code); amended in its entirety 6-22-2015 by L.L. No. 5-2015. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A Commission on Human Relations is hereby established by the City of Peekskill in part in accordance with Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law, as enacted by Chapter 376 of the Laws of 1963.
The Commission shall consist of 11 members to be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Common Council. The Mayor shall designate one of such members to be Chairman, who shall serve as Chairman for three years.
Of the members first appointed, four shall be appointed for terms of office of one year each, four for terms of office of two years each and three for terms of office of three years each. Thereafter, all appointments, except to fill vacancies, shall be for terms of office of three years each. Vacancies occurring otherwise than by expiration of terms of office shall be filled for the unexpired terms of the offices so filled.
Unless salaries are provided for the members of the Commission or for the Chairman, they shall serve without salary but may be reimbursed for their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties.
In making appointments to the Commission, the Mayor shall take into consideration the various religious, racial, nationality, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and political groups in the community.
A. 
The Commission on Human Relations hereby created shall have the power and authority, subject to applicable civil service requirements, to employ an Executive Director, a Secretary and such attorneys, experts and other employees as may be necessary, within the amount made available by the Common Council of the City of Peekskill.
B. 
The Common Council shall establish a budget for this Commission in such amount as in its discretion seems adequate.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to:
A. 
Foster mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and nationality groups in the community.
B. 
Make such studies in any field of human relations in the community as, in its judgment, will aid in effectuating its general purposes.
C. 
Conduct and recommend such educational programs as, in its judgment, will increase goodwill among inhabitants of the community and open new opportunities into all phases of community life for all inhabitants.
The Commission shall discharge the following obligations as provided by Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law:
A. 
Hold conferences and other public meetings in the interest of and the constructive resolution of racial, religious, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and nationality group tensions and the prejudice and discrimination occasioned thereby.
B. 
Enlist the cooperation and participation of the various racial, religious, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and nationality groups, community organizations, industrial and labor organizations, media of 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.
C. 
Encourage and stimulate agencies under the jurisdiction of the Common Council of the City of Peekskill to take such action as will fulfill the purposes of the Human Relations Commission.
D. 
Submit an annual report to the Common Council.
E. 
Any complaints of alleged discrimination submitted to the Human Relations Commission shall be referred to the State Commission for Human Rights, the Westchester County Human Rights Commission or such other agency with authority to investigate such complaints and publish such findings.
In the event the provisions of General Municipal Law, Article 12-D as such amendments relate to the provisions of this Chapter 73, are amended, such amendments shall be effective with respect to the Commission on Human Relations created hereby.