(a) There is hereby established a Human Relations Commission, 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 Commission and who shall not be employed by the City, but who may be employed by the County, State or Federal government. Any duly appointed Commission member who is a candidate for any public office shall be automatically disqualified from further membership on the Commission. The day the Commission member files petitions with the County Board of Elections shall be the date of the disqualification. Nothing shall prohibit the Commission 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 Commission member shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council. Of the members first appointed, one shall hold office for a term of one year, one for a term of two years and the other for a term of three years. Their successors may be appointed for terms of three years. The Mayor shall fill all vacancies by appointment for the remainder of .the unexpired term. The Mayor shall be an ex-officio member of the Commission. After being duly constituted, a Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be chosen by majority vote of the Commission.
(c) The Secretary of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor and may be an employee of the City.
(d) The Mayor may recommend .to Council the removal of any member of the Commission for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Council may remove a member of the Commission from office by an affirmative vote of at least three-quarters of Council, but 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 Council in his or her own defense. Any such removal shall be final.
(e) Two members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof. A vacancy on the Commission shall not impair the right of the other members to exercise all the power of the Commission.
(f) Each member of the Commission shall serve without salary, but shall be paid necessary and actual expenses expended in performing the business of the Commission.
(g) The Commission 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 Commission;
(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 Commission;
(5) To recommend to the Mayor, when it deems it to be necessary, educational and other programs designed to promote the purpose of this chapter; and
(6) To do such other acts as are necessary and proper in order to perform those duties with which it is charged under this chapter.
(h) The Mayor shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter.
(Ord. 79-023. Passed 5-14-79.)