(A) Term of office; qualifications for membership. There is hereby created a Commission on Housing and Human Relations consisting of nine members, of which two members shall be between the ages of 16 and 21 years of age, and said nine members shall be either residents of, be employed in or have a business located within the village; provided, however, a majority of the Commission members shall be residents of the village. Each member shall be appointed by the Village President with the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson shall be designated annually by the Village President. All members shall serve for a period of three years, or until a successor has been approved and has qualified.
(B) Purpose of Commission. The purpose of the Commission shall be:
(1) To promote the long term racial diversity and stable integration of the community through development of programs and recommendations designed to ensure that there exists full and equal access to and demand for housing opportunities throughout the community without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion or national origin, and that the fair housing regulations of the village are complied with;
(2) Recommend to the Village Board and other municipal officials means to foster, encourage and stimulate the improvement of human relations among and between all citizens of all races, colors, religions, sexes, national origins, ancestries, ages, marital statuses, parental statuses, sexual orientations, sources of income (with the exclusion of Section 8), military discharge statuses, gender identities, retaliations, housing statuses, aiding/abetting and willful interferences, to effectuate the policy set forth in § 94.01, as well as economic and educational levels so as to provide all individuals with an equal opportunity to grow, participate and share to the best of their ability in the social, civic, educational, political, economic and judicial systems; and
(3) Administer the Fair Housing Ordinance responsibilities as defined elsewhere in this chapter.
(C) Duties and functions. The primary function of the Commission is to further its stated policies. Its duties shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Advise the President and Board of Trustees on human relations and housing matters as may be assigned by the Village Board or initiated by the Commission;
(2) Research and design program recommendations designed to stimulate an interest in and demand for housing opportunities throughout the community by all economically competitive segments of the home buying and renting market;
(3) Develop and administer in cooperation with housing developers and real estate agents active within the community such affirmative marketing plans as may be necessary to attract homeseekers who may not otherwise consider housing opportunities in the community in general or particular neighborhoods within the community;
(4) Maintain and analyze housing transaction statistics and real estate information as may be necessary to evaluate the success of municipal housing programs;
(5) Review and recommend ordinances, programs and practices which prevent housing discrimination and enhance racial stability;
(6) Receive and investigate complaints alleging unlawful discriminatory acts or unfair housing practices;
(7) Initiate complaints charging unlawful discriminatory acts and unfair housing practices;
(8) Endeavor through conciliation to resolve such complaints;
(9) Conduct adjudicative hearings concerning such complaints, make findings of fact, issue orders and recommend that the village seek judicial or administrative relief with respect to such complaints and orders in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(10) Subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take sworn testimony and in connection therewith, require the production for examination of any documents relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the Commission, and enforce such powers by proper petition in any court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(11) Gather and provide for the exchange of information related to the provisions of this chapter among real estate agents, lending institutions, developers, employers, municipal officials and employees, community organizations, and other persons with an interest in effective enforcement of this chapter;
(12) Serve as the educational arm of the municipality in the field of human relations and housing to all persons, areas, groups and institutions in the municipality; and
(13) Carry out such research and recommend actions in the field of human relations to lessen prejudice and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, parental status, sexual orientation, source of income (with the exclusion of Section 8), military discharge status, gender identity, retaliation, housing status, aiding/abetting and willful interference.
(D) Meetings; rules of procedure. The Commission shall meet regularly and adopt its own rules of procedure, and all meetings shall be held in accordance with said rules. The Commission shall submit to the municipality an annual report and such special reports as it may from time to time deem advisable. The Commission shall perform such further duties as may be assigned to it by the President and Board of Trustees.
(E) Powers of Commission.
(1) When authorized by the President and Board of Trustees by appropriate resolution, the Commission may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence relating to any matter under investigation and hearing. The Chairperson may sign a subpoena which may be served by any police officer of the municipality or by any person lawfully authorized to serve a subpoena under the laws of the state. The attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary evidence may be required at such designated place of the hearing within the municipality and before the Commission as a whole, or before a duly constituted subcommittee of the Commission. Witnesses summoned before the Commission, or a subcommittee of the Commission, shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the Circuit Court of this state.
(2) In case of disobedience by a person to the subpoena, the Commission may petition the Circuit Court of the county for an order requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses, for the production of documentary evidence, or both. The Chairperson of the Commission or the Commission member conducting the hearing is authorized to administer oaths and is required to provide for the preservation of all testimony taken.
(2000 Code, § 94.25) (Ord. 983, passed 9-18-1978; Ord. 1140, passed 4-19-1982; Ord. 1264, passed 8-5-1985; Ord. 1545, passed 12-20-1993; Ord. 1894, passed 2-18-2003; Ord. 4027, passed 12-7-2009)
Statutory reference:
Human Relations Commission, see 775 ILCS 5/8-101 et seq.