The Commission on Human Rights 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 governing board of the City of Kingston
of the County of Ulster.
It shall be the duty of the Commission, as provided
by Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law, to:
A. Foster mutual respect and understanding among all
racial, religious and nationality groups in the community.
B. Make such studies in any field of human relationship
in the community as, in its judgment, will aid in effectuating its
general purposes.
C. Inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among
or between various racial, religious and nationality groups and to
take such action as may be designated to alleviate such tension and
conflict.
D. Conduct and recommend such educational programs as,
in its judgment, will increase good will 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. Receive complaints of alleged discrimination because
of race, creed, color or national origin, seek the active assistance
of the State Commission for Human Relations in the solution of complaints which fall within the jurisdiction
of the State Commission 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 and 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 Article
12-D of the General Municipal Law.
D. Enlist the cooperation and participation of the various
racial, religious and nationality groups, community organizations,
industrial 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.
E. Encourage and stimulate agencies under the jurisdiction
of the governing board of the City of Kingston of the County of Ulster
which created the Commission to take such action as will fulfill the
purposes of such Article 12-D.
F. Submit an annual report to such governing board.
In the event that the provisions of Article
12-D of the General Municipal Law are amended, such amendments shall
be effective with respect to the Commission on Human Rights created
hereby.