A Commission on Human Rights is hereby established by the City
of Mount Vernon 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 15 members to be appointed by
the Mayor. The Mayor shall designate one of such members to be Chairman,
who shall serve as Chairman at the pleasure of the Mayor.
Of the members first appointed, five shall be appointed for
terms of office of one year each, five for terms of office of two
years each and five 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.
The members of the Commission, including the Chairman, 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 and
political groups in the community.
The Commission on Human Rights hereby created shall have the
power and authority, subject to applicable civil service requirements,
to employ an Executive Director and such other subordinates, experts,
attorneys or other employees as may be prescribed by the Board of
Estimate and Contract.
There is hereby appropriated to the Commission on Human Rights
to defray its expenses from October 1 through December 31, 1963, the
sum of $3,000, to be financed by a budget note or notes to be hereafter
authorized.
It shall be the duty of the Commission, as provided in Article
12-D of the General Municipal Law:
A. To
foster mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious
and nationality groups in the City of Mount Vernon.
B. To
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.
C. To
inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between various
racial, religious and nationality groups, and to take such action
as may be designed to alleviate such tensions and conflict.
D. To
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.
E. To
report complaints to the Division of Human Rights alleging unlawful
discriminatory practices under Article 15 of the Executive Law.
[Added 2-24-1982, approved 2-25-1982]
The Commission shall discharge the following obligations:
A. Receive
complaints of alleged discrimination because of race, creed, color
or national origin, seek the active assistance of the Division of
Human Rights in the solution of complaints which fall within the jurisdiction
of the 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.
[Amended 2-24-1982, approved 2-25-1982]
B. Hold
conferences and other public meetings in the interest of the constructive
resolution of racial, 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
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 opening new opportunities into all phases of
community life for all individuals.
[Amended 2-24-1982, approved 2-25-1982]
E. Encourage
and stimulate agencies under the jurisdiction of the Mayor to take
such action as will fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
F. Submit
a quarterly report to the Mayor and to the City Council on its activities.
In the event the provisions of the General Municipal Law, Article
12-D, are amended, such amendments shall be effective with respect
to the Commission on Human Rights created hereby.
This chapter shall take effect October 1, 1963, after its approval
by the Board of Estimate and Contract.