[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Jamestown 10-4-1965.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
A Commission on Human Rights is hereby established by
the City in accordance with Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law.
B.
The Commission shall consist of not more than 12 members
to be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council.
The Mayor shall designate one of such members to be Chairman, who shall serve
as Chairman at the pleasure of the Mayor.
C.
Of the members first appointed, four shall be appointed
for terms of office of one year, four shall be appointed for terms of office
of two years and four 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 shall serve without salary but may be
reimbursed for their actual and authorized 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 Mayor shall have the power and authority, subject to the applicable
civil service requirements, to employ an executive director, a secretary and
such attorneys, experts and other employees as may be necessary, whenever
such positions shall be created by and within the amount made available by
the City Council.
It shall be the duty of the Commission, as provided in 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 relationships
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 designed 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 Rights in the solution of complaints which fall
within the jurisdiction of the State Commission for Human Rights; and prepare
its own plans in the case of other complaints with a view of 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 a 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, industry
and labor organizations, media or mass communication, fraternal and benevolent
associations and other groups in an international 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 city which created the Commission to take such action as will fulfill
the purposes of Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law.
F.
Submit an annual report to the Mayor and City Council.
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 by this chapter.
