(A) Membership. There is hereby created the Mt. Vernon Minority Affairs and Human Relations Commission consisting of thirteen (13) voting members and two (2) ex officio non-voting members, all of whom shall serve without compensation. The Commission shall reflect a broad representation of community interests; the members of the Commission shall be residents of the City of Mt. Vernon and/or officially designated representatives from a recognized and functional governmental, religious or educational entity or a similarly recognized entity, or otherwise designated or determined by the City Council. Nine (9) of the voting members shall be representatives of the afore-described recognized entities and four (4) voting members shall be from the community at large. The two (2) ex officio members shall be one (1) representative from each the Jefferson County Housing Authority and the City Housing Authority.
(B) Appointment and term. The voting members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council for the terms as follows: four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years; and five (5) members shall be appointed ford term of five (5) years. Ex officio members shall each be appointed by the entity each represents and shall have no designated term. Vacancies of voting members shall be filled by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council within 60 days after having occurred for the unexpired portion of the vacant term or full term.
(C) Officers. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission, and any other officers deemed necessary by said body, shall be elected by the majority vote of the membership of the Commission.
(D) Duties. The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Mayor and the City Council, endeavor to assure fair and equal treatment under the law to all citizens; to protect the rights of all persons to enjoy public accommodations and facilities; to receive equal treatment from all agencies of the City and from all holders of licenses, contracts, and privileges from the City; and to assure equality of opportunity for employment and advancement in the City government.
(E) Discrimination. The Commission shall advise and consult with the Mayor and the Council in all matters involving prejudice or discrimination based upon race, sex, religion, ethnic origin, age, marital status, or physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, and recommended such legislative action as it deems appropriate to effectuate the policy of this Resolution and to improve human relations in the entire City. The Commission shall also seek to accomplish the goals and purposes of the Commission through education and conciliation.
(F) Definitions. For the purpose hereof:
(1) AGE means the chronological age of a person who is at least forty (40) years old; and
(2) DISABILITY means a determinable physical or mental characteristic of a person, including, but not limited to, a determinable physical characteristic which necessitates the person’s use of a guide, hearing, or support dog; the history of such characteristic; or the perception of such characteristic by others, which may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth or functional disorder, and which characteristic is unrelated to the person’s ability to perform or carry out the function involved in the practice of discrimination or acts of prejudice.
(G) Annual report. The Commission shall not less than annually report to the City Council its activities and recommendations.