(a) There is hereby established a Human Rights Board to consist of three members who shall be qualified electors of the City, who shall not hold any elected public office at the Municipal, County, State or Federal level at any time while a member of the Board and who shall not be employed by the City, but may be employed by the County, State or Federal government. Any duly appointed Board member who is a candidate for any public office shall be automatically disqualified from further membership on the Board. The day the Board member files petitions with the County Board of Elections shall be the date of the disqualification. Nothing shall prohibit the Board from consulting and meeting with real estate agents or representatives of lending institutions in matters regarding educational or other programs to further the purpose of this chapter.
(b) The Board members shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council. Candidates shall be drawn from eligible members on the Human Relations Commission. The terms of the members appointed to the Human Rights Board shall be co-extensive with their tenure on the Human Relations Commission.
(c) The Secretary of the Board shall be appointed by the Board and may be an employee of the City.
(d) The Human Relations Commission may recommend to Council the removal of any member of the Board for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Council may remove a member of the Board from office by an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of Council only after having first given to such member a written copy of the charges against him or her and an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in his or her own defense. Any such removal shall be final.
(e) Two members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof. A vacancy on the Board shall not impair the right of the other members to exercise all the powers of the Board.
(f) Each member of the Board shall serve without salary, but shall be paid necessary and actual expenses expended in performing the business of the Board.
(g) The Board is hereby charged with the following duties to implement the stated policy of this chapter:
(1) To investigate all complaints of unlawful housing or employment practices which are filed with it;
(2) To initiate complaints of unlawful housing or employment practices on the basis of studies carried out by its staff or volunteers authorized by the Board;
(3) To endeavor by conciliation to resolve such complaints;
(4) To hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under oath, and, in connection therewith, to require the production or examination of any books or papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the Board;
(5) To recommend to the Mayor, when it deems it to be necessary, educational and other programs designed to promote the purpose stated in this chapter; and
(6) To do such other acts that are necessary and proper in order to perform those duties with which it is charged under the terms of this chapter.
(h) The Human Relations Commission shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter.
(Ord. 3726. Passed 11-21-78; Am. Ord. 4017. Passed 12-16-80.)