(a) There is hereby established a Fair Housing Board which shall consist of five (5) members: one (1) appointed by the Mayor; one (1) appointed by the Council; and three (3) citizen members nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by Council. The member appointed by the Mayor and the member appointed by Council each shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Of the citizen members first appointed, one (1) shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year, one (1) for a term of two (2) years, and one (1) for a term of three (3) years; thereafter appointments shall be for three (3) years.
(b) After January 1, 2011, and upon expiration of the terms of the members appointed under division (a), appointments to the Fair Housing Board shall be as follows: two (2) appointed by the Mayor; two (2) appointed by the Council; and one (1) citizen member nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by Council. The members shall each be appointed for a term of three (3) years. To accomplish this change in the appointment process, the first expired term of a citizen member appointed under division (a) shall be filled by the Mayor; the second expired term of a citizen member appointed under division (a) shall be filled by Council. Thereafter, all appointments shall be made in accordance with this division.
(c) The Fair Housing Board shall have the responsibility to administer the provisions of this chapter and to adjudicate complaints alleging violations of any section. The Board shall have and may exercise the following powers to implement the purposes of this chapter:
(1) To hold adjudicative hearings, make findings of fact, issue orders, enforce such orders and seek judicial and/or administrative relief with respect to any such complaints in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(2) To subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take sworn testimony and, in connection therewith, to require the production for examination of any documents relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the Board, and enforce such powers by proper petition to any court of competent jurisdiction;
(3) To adopt such rules and regulations as the Board may deem necessary or desirable for the conduct of its business and to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(4) To do such other acts as are necessary and proper to perform those duties with which the Board is charged under this chapter, including the provision of referral services for the community;
(5) To collect, analyze and study the results of investigations made under this chapter and report to the Mayor and City Council on or before January 31 of each calendar year on the working of this chapter for the purpose of advising on and recommending amendments to this chapter;
(6) To conduct a continuing program of education and community organization throughout the City;
(7) To initiate an investigation without the filing of an official complaint, provided a majority of the Board elects to proceed based upon reasonable cause to believe that violations of this chapter are occurring or have occurred. The Board shall have the same powers following this initiated investigation as it has with an investigation based on the filing of a complaint;
(8) To enter into cooperative agreements with other governmental agencies to effectuate the purposes of this chapter;
(9) To refer persons allegedly aggrieved by unlawful discriminatory housing practices to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or other governmental or private agencies, as appropriate;
(10) If the Board has reasonable cause to believe that any person or persons are engaged in unlawful discriminatory housing practices as described in Section 665.03, the Board may refer the matter to the Director of Law for commencement of a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction on behalf of the City. The Director of Law may seek any relief considered necessary to ensure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this chapter.
(Ord. No. 1329-10. Passed 12-6-10, eff. 12-6-10)