CHAPTER 153
Human Relations Commission
Human Relations Commission
153.01 Creation; members; quorum.
153.02 Goals and objectives.
153.03 Powers and duties.
153.04 Organization.
153.05 Proceedings on complaint and investigation.
CROSS REFERENCES
Affirmative action - see ADM. Ch. 111
Civil Rights Commission - see Ohio R.C. Ch. 4112
Interfering with civil rights - see GEN. OFF. 525.13
153.01 CREATION; MEMBERS; QUORUM.
(a) There is hereby created the Mansfield Human Relations Commission to consist of a minimum of eighteen members and a maximum of twenty-five members to be appointed by the Mayor to serve without compensation for the term of three years or until their successors are appointed, except that members of such Commission appointed in June, 1980, shall serve for such term that the term of six members shall expire June 15, 1981; the term of six members shall expire on June 15, 1982; and the term of the remaining members shall expire on June 15, 1983. The chairman shall be appointed by the members of the Commission and shall be a voting member of the Commission.
(b) The Human Relations Commission members shall comprise a cross-section of the community at large. While members are to be representative of many racial, religious, civic, business, labor and private groups, they should be independent of these groups and selected only after consultation with persons broadly representing the community interests. All commissioners shall be committed to the philosophy of equal opportunity for and fair treatment of all people, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, age or ancestry.
(Ord. 81-158. Passed 6-2-81.)
(c) One-third of the members of the Human Relations Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof. A vacancy in the Commission shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the Commission. Any vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor. Each member shall hold office from the date of his appointment until the end of the term for which he was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of such term. Any member of the Commission may be removed by the chairman for inefficiency, neglect of duty, misconduct or malfeasance in office after being given a written statement of the charges against him and an opportunity to be heard publicly thereon. (Ord. 86-153. Passed 7-2-86.)
153.02 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
(a) The general goals of the Human Relations Commission in carrying out its powers and duties shall assure:
(1) Equal protection of the law and full rights and privileges of citizenship for all people;
(2) Full equality of opportunity in the total economic, political and cultural life of a community;
(3) Improved communication, understanding and cooperation between all racial, ethnic and religious groups; and
(4) Equal employment in all departments and levels of government and equal services to all residents.
(b) The objectives of the Human Relations Commission shall be:
(1) To strive to eliminate the artificial barriers and controls which deny the residents of this community the right to choose their own homes.
(2) To seek first through conciliation to wipe out discrimination in public accommodations, services and law enforcement, and should this measure fail, employ whatever enforcement powers the ordinances of the City may from time to time provide, assist, direct and/or the complaining party or group to such State or Federal enforcement groups that might be available.
(3) To help develop programs that assure equality in educational facilities and which provide for all children according to their potential and varying needs.
(4) To implement programs with the Chief of Police to create a knowledgeable and meaningful understanding of the special sensitivities of minority groups by all police officers.
(5) To stimulate the business and civic community to become actively involved in the social program and particularly in employment problems that produce wide gaps between the majority and minority citizenry.
(6) To develop ways of anticipating, preparing for and relieving community tensions arising from racial differences.
(7) To act as an interpreter and conciliator in those instances where tensions erupt into social disturbances and offer recommendations to hasten the necessary social change which may deter the recurrence of a similar social disturbance.
(8) Be concerned with inequities in the criminal justice system, including correctional institutions.
(9) To secure and maintain an adequate, factual basis for sound planning and action.
(10) Make recommendation to initiate, develop, modify and facilitate legislation and programs with community groups, both public and private, to obtain a better adjustment between EEO, Civil Service Commission, community resources and human relations needs.
(11) To improve and facilitate interrelationships and to promote coordination between organizations both public and private, groups and individuals concerned with community resources and human relations needs.
(12) To develop public support of, and participation in, human relations problem areas requiring attention and action.
(Ord. 81-158. Passed 6-2-81.)
153.03 POWERS AND DUTIES.
The Human Relations Commission shall:
(a) Establish and maintain a principal office in the City and such other offices within the City as it considers necessary.
(b) The Commission shall report directly to the Mayor, and through the Mayor to Council, its advice and assistance in seeking solutions to the many problems comprising the urban crisis, to assist and recommend methods for creating and maintaining harmony and mutual respect in metropolitan Mansfield .
(c) The Mayor shall appoint the Director of Human Relations upon recommendation by the Commission; employment of additional staff shall remain within the province of the Commission; subject, however, to the City's personnel policy and procedures.
(d) The Commission shall communicate to the Mayor present and future causes and sources of tension or disorder in any part of the community; and in order to do so, conduct fact finding activities about such causes and disorders, and arrange direct communications between various resident groups, organizations, and the City administration or any combination of them.
(e) The Commission shall audit and review the human relations aspect of the City administration, including, but not limited to, equal employment practices, the contract compliance program, the efficient and productive processing of resident complaints against any City department or operation, and fair and equitable distribution of services to the residents.
(f) The Commission shall recommend to the Mayor programs of action and constructive change which will correct those causes of intergroup tension and disorder which underlie the urban crisis including, but not limited to, the elimination of intolerance and unjust conditions of bias, discrimination and prejudice against minority groups, and programs to insure equal enforcement of law and equal protection of law for all minorities.
(g) Upon specific request of the Mayor the Commission may conduct hearings, or may hear complaints or inquiries from any resident or group of residents submitted through the staff or otherwise, and shall conduct hearings upon specific request of the Mayor.
(h) Support a comprehensive educational program in cooperation with the Board of Education and other administrative agencies of the City, for the students of the public schools of this City and for all other residents thereof, designed to eliminate prejudice on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, age or ancestry in this City, to further good will among such groups to emphasize the origin or prejudice against such groups, its harmful effects, and its incompatibility with the principles of equal protection of the law and the full rights and privileges of citizenship.
(i) Issue such publication, pamphlets, reports and such results of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, handicap, age or ancestry.
(j) Formulate policies to effectuate the goals and objectives of this chapter and make recommendations to the administrative offices and legislative body of the City to effectuate such policies.
(k) The City shall be the prime funding agent of the Commission, and its fiscal operation shall be subject to review and analysis by the City; the Commission shall keep an accounting of its receipts and expenditures which shall be available at any time for examination by the proper officers of the City.
(Ord. 81-158. Passed 6-2-81.)
153.04 ORGANIZATION.
(a) The Human Relations Commission shall determine its own internal organization, elect its own officers, adopt its own rules and by-laws and otherwise determine its own administration and procedures. Providing, however, that the rules of the Commission shall:
(1) Require the vote of a quorum of the members appointed for the adoption of a rule, by-law, resolution, motion or other proceeding.
(2) Provide for regular meetings of the Commission as to time, place and date.
(3) Require twenty-four hour written notice to all members of any special meeting of the Commission.
(b) The Commission shall organize into committees and subcommittees and assign responsibilities. Organizational structure shall vary according to the powers and functions delegated by this chapter. To increase its effectiveness, the Commission shall encourage resident participation in its programs. For this purpose, the Commission may establish ad hoc advisory committees for the purpose of securing the services of highly competent people who normally cannot accept long-term responsibility. Additional support services will be secured through private organizations in the community when the Commission needs the assistance in carrying out its special protects. (Ord. 81-158. Passed 6-2-81.)
153.05 PROCEEDINGS ON COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION.
(a) The Human Relations Commission, shall, as provided under this chapter, investigate upon its own initiative or upon complaint filed with the Commission any alleged unlawful discriminatory practice, provided that before instituting any formal requests for State or Federal action it shall attempt by informal methods of persuasion and conciliation to induce voluntary resolution of such alleged unlawful activity.
(b) Whenever it is charged in writing by a person referred to as the complainant that any person, organization or governmental body has engaged or is engaging in unlawful discriminatory practices falling within the purview of this chapter, the Commission may initiate a preliminary investigation. Such charge shall be filed with the Commission within six months after the alleged unlawful discriminatory practices are committed. If the Commission determines after such investigation that it is not probable that unlawful discriminatory practices have been or are being engaged in, it shall notify the complaining party that it has so determined and that it will not investigate the matter further. If it determines after such investigation that it is probable that unlawful discriminatory practices have been or are being engaged in, it shall endeavor to eliminate such practices by informal methods of conference, conciliation and persuasion. If the Commission fails to effect the elimination of such alleged unlawful discriminatory practices it may elect one of the following courses of action:
(1) Assist the complaining party in filing the appropriate complaint with the State or Federal enforcement authority having jurisdiction over such activity.
(2) Submit the full report, with recommendations, to the legislative authority and administration of the City.
(3) Make public its factual findings, report and recommendations.
(Ord. 81-158. Passed 6-2-81.)