(A) Establishment. There is established a Maywood Commission on Community Relations (hereafter referred to as "Commission") consisting of 3 members to be appointed by the Village President with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Members of the Commission shall be chosen from among residents of the Village representing various segments of the community. In the making of appointments hereunder, the Village President may receive recommendations by civic groups. A majority of the current membership shall constitute a quorum but such quorum shall in no event consist of less than 2 members of the Commission. The term of each member of the Commission shall be 3 years and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified; provided, however, that of the members first appointed, or appointed after a period of commission dormancy in excess of 3 years, 1 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 1 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, and 1 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. The Commission shall elect from its members a Chairman and such other positions as it deems necessary. The Village President shall appoint 1 Trustee to serve as the Village Board liaison to the Commission and who shall attend Commission meetings and report to the Board of Trustees on matters being considered by the Commission. Village employees may serve on the Commission, but in doing so, they serve in a strictly volunteer capacity, they are not Village employees during the time of their service, and they are not entitled to receive salary, overtime, compensatory time or other compensation or accrue employment benefits for the time they serve on the Commission.
(B) Meetings. The Commission shall conduct a regular public meeting once every month or on call of the Chairman or of any 2 members.
(C) Duties.
(1) The Commission shall cooperate with the Village President, Board of Trustees, Village departments, agencies and officials in securing the furnishing of equal services to all residents, and where the need is greater, in meeting that need with added services; training Village employees to use methods of dealing with intergroup relations which develop respect for equal rights and which result in equal treatment without regard to the actual or perceived status, practice, or expression of that person's race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or parental status; or the actual or perceived association with such a person; assuring fair and equal treatment under the law to all citizens; protecting the rights of all persons to enjoy public accommodations and facilities and to receive equal treatment from all holders of licenses, contracts or privileges from the Village; and maintaining equality of opportunity for employment and advancement in the Village government. The services of all Village departments and agencies shall be made available by their respective heads to the Commission at its request, and information in the hands of any department or agency shall be furnished to the Commission when requested. Upon receipt of recommendations in writing from the Commission, each department or agency shall submit a reply in writing indicating the disposition of, and action taken, with regard to such recommendations.
(2) The Commission shall advise and consult with the Board of Trustees on all matters involving prejudice or discrimination based on the actual or perceived status, practice, or expression of that person's race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or parental status; or the actual or perceived association with such a person and recommend such legislative action as it may deem appropriate to effectuate the policy of this section. The Commission shall render quarterly reports to the President and Board of Trustees or more frequent reports upon request by the President and Board of Trustees.
(D) Staff.
(1) The Commission shall, with the approval of the Village President and the Board of Trustees, hire professional and clerical staff to carry out its purposes.
(2) The staff shall have the responsibility for carrying out the administrative and day to day operations of the Commission and implementing the policies and programs of the Commission.
(E) Cooperation with other agencies.
(1) The Commission shall invite and enlist the cooperation of racial, religious, ethnic and other groups, community organizations, labor and business organizations, fraternal and benevolent societies, veterans organizations, professional and technical organizations, and other groups in the Village in carrying on it's work. The Commission may aid in the formation of local community groups in such neighborhoods as it may deem necessary or desirable to carry out specific programs designed to lessen tensions or improve understanding in the community.
(2) The Commission shall cooperate with state and federal agencies whenever it deems such action appropriate in effectuating the policy of this section.
(F) Further duties. The Commission shall receive and investigate complaints and initiate its own investigations of tensions, practices of discrimination and acts of prejudice against any person or group because of the actual or perceived status, practice, or expression of that person's race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or parental status; or the actual or perceived association with such a person and may conduct public hearings with regard thereto; carry on research, obtain factual data and conduct public hearings to ascertain the status and treatment of racial, religious and ethnic groups in the Village, and the best means of progressively improving human relations in the entire Village; and issue such publications and such results of investigations and public hearings and make such recommendations to the Board of Trustees as in its judgment will effectuate the policy of this section. The Commission shall perform such further duties as are set forth in Chapter 90 and as may be delegated to it by the Board of Trustees.
(G) See Chapter 90 (Fair Housing) of this Code.
(1997 Code, § 3.25) (Ord. 66-18, passed 6-23- 1966; Am. Ord. 73-3, passed 3-8-1973; Am. Ord. 73-11, passed 6-14-1973; Am. Ord. CO-09-10, passed 5-5-2009; Am. Ord. CO-2010-04, passed 2-16-2010; Am. Ord. CO-2021-19, passed 8-17-2021)