(A) Creation. There is hereby created a Community Relations Commission (hereinafter referred to as Commission) consisting of 15 members appointed by the Village President with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees. All of the members shall be residents of the village. A Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be elected annually by a vote of a majority of the Commission. At the first regular meeting of the Commission, lots will be drawn whereby it will be determined that in the first term of appointment, five members will serve three years, five members will serve two years and five members will serve one year. Subsequent terms of appointment shall be for three years. No member shall serve more than two consecutive full three-year terms.
(B) Purpose. The purpose of the Commission shall be to promote a truly open, integrated and stable community and to stimulate the improvement of human relations among all persons, so as to provide all citizens with an equal opportunity to grow, participate in and share to the best of their ability the economic, educational, political and social benefits of the community.
(C) Duties. The duties of the Commission shall include but shall not be limited to the following:
(1) Advising elected officials and staff on human/community relations matters;
(2) Serving as an educational arm of the village in the field of human/community relations to all persons, groups and institutions in the community;
(3) Acting as a bridge between village government, citizens and citizens' groups;
(4) Performing as a catalyst in improving human/community relations and equitable living conditions;
(5) Holding hearings and carrying on research and studies in the field of human/community relations in an effort to equalize opportunities and lessen prejudice and discrimination;
(6) Performing an advocacy role by initiating complaints of discrimination and by assisting and encouraging persons in the pursuit of their rights under this chapter.
(7) Gathering and providing for the exchange of information relative to the provisions of this chapter among real estate brokers and salespersons, lenders, developers, employers, municipal officials and community groups within and without the village.
(8) Counseling of prospective residents in accordance with the policy and provisions of this chapter and maintaining a list of counseling sources approved by the village.
(D) Meetings. The Commission shall meet monthly and adopt its own rules of procedure, and all meetings shall be held in accordance with such rules. The Commissions shall submit to the municipality an annual report and such special reports as it may from time to time deem advisable. The Commission shall performance such further duties as may be assigned by the President and Board of Trustees.
(E) Subpoenas. When authorized by the President and Board of Trustees, the Commission may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents, and its subpoena power may be enforced by proper petition to a court of competent jurisdiction. The Chairperson of the Commission is authorized to sign such subpoenas and to administrate oaths and is required to provide for the presentation of all testimony taken.
(`95 Code, § 94.25) (Ord. 81-20, passed 9-23-81)