There is hereby created a Human Rights and Relations
Commission which shall be composed of nine resident electors and three
alternates, also resident electors, to be appointed by the Town Council.
Of the nine regular members, three shall have initial terms that shall
terminate on June 30, 1977; three shall have initial terms that shall
terminate on June 30, 1978; and three shall have initial terms that
shall terminate on June 30, 1979. Of the three alternates, one shall
have an initial term that shall terminate on June 30, 1977; one shall
have an initial term that shall terminate of June 30, 1978; and one
shall have an initial term that shall terminate on June 30, 1979.
To the fullest extent possible, members of the Commission shall be
selected from a cross section of the community who are interested
in the aims and purposes of the Commission. Upon the expiration of
the original appointment term, all subsequent appointments shall be
for a term of three years commencing on the first day of July.
Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission
shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired term of such member.
The Council may remove any Commission member for just cause as is
provided in Chapter III of the Charter. There shall be no limitation
as to the number of consecutive terms any regular member may serve.
A.
The Commission may adopt bylaws which it deems necessary
to carry out the intent of this article, and the same and any amendments
thereto shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk and available
for public inspection.
B.
At its initial meeting and at its first meeting after
July first of each year beginning in 1977, the Commission shall elect
from its members a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary, and
such other officers as it deems appropriate.
C.
The Mayor and his/her designee from the Council, the
Town Manager or his/her designee, an individual designated from the
Housing Authority, the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee
and an individual designated from the Board of Education may, to the
extent they so elect, serve as ex officio members of said Commission
without the power to vote.
D.
The Commission shall hold a minimum of six meetings
each year at such regular intervals as it may designate. Any four
regular members of the Commission may at any time request, in writing,
that the Chairperson call a special meeting. The Chairperson shall,
within three days after receipt of such a request, call a special
meeting for a time within five days after the date of the call of
the meeting. A quorum at any meeting shall consist of five voting
members. It will require five affirmative votes for the Commission
to take any action.
The purposes of the Commission shall be as follows:
A.
To promote mutual understanding and respect among
all racial, religious, ethnic and other groups.
B.
To secure equality of treatment and opportunity for
all human beings.
C.
To cooperate with governmental and nongovernmental
agencies and organizations having like or kindred functions to those
of the Commission.
D.
To make such studies in the field of human rights
as, in the judgment of the Commission, will aid in promoting its general
purpose.
E.
To offer its services and to cooperate with other
agencies and departments of the Town of Wethersfield in promoting
a healthy community.
The commission shall have the following responsibilities:
A.
To work with federal, state and Town agencies, as
well as with private, civic, religious, business, industrial, labor
and other organizations, groups and persons, and to recommend to the
Town Council programs designed to help all members of the community
to enjoy equality of opportunity in all phases of community life.
B.
To engage in study and research and to publish reports
designed to increase understanding within the community and conduct
other appropriate activities in furtherance of its goals.
C.
Complaints.
(1)
To receive and/or examine complaints regarding inequity
of treatment or of discrimination in the Town and, when appropriate,
refer such complaints to the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights
and Opportunities or its successor agency and to other agencies having
jurisdiction in a particular matter; provided, however, that:
(a)
Such referrals shall only be with the authorization
of the Town Council.
(b)
All complaints emanating from Town employees
concerning their employment shall not be within the jurisdiction of
said Commission but shall be processed through internal Town grievance
procedures to the extent they so apply.
(2)
In any event, said Commission shall endeavor to resolve
all complaints at the local level.
D.
To seek voluntary compliance with all state and federal
laws relating to human rights and opportunities, as the same may be
amended from time to time.
E.
To advise and recommend to the Town Council such ordinances
or programs as it deems necessary to deal with problems of human relations
and rights as they exist or to prevent such problems before they arise
in the Town of Wethersfield in situations where there is a real and
present likelihood they will arise, and such likelihood is demonstrated
by complaints or established by Council-assigned projects and studies.
F.
To submit to the Town Council annually or more frequently
reports concerning the activities of the Commission.
G.
To promote activities and programs to carry out the
purposes of the Commission.
H.
To pursue programs of education that further intergroup
understanding, tolerance and acceptance.
Members of the Commission shall serve without
compensation. Secretarial, clerical and technical assistance as the
Commission may need for the performance of its duties shall be made
available to it within the limits of any appropriation made therefor,
if any, and in accordance with Town personnel policies. The Commission
may, with the approval of the Council, apply for and receive grants
to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities.
