(a) There is hereby established a Human Rights Board, consisting of three members who shall be qualified electors of the Municipality, who shall not hold any elected public office at the Municipal, County, State or Federal level at any time while a member of the Board and who shall not be employed by the Municipality but who may be employed by the County, State or Federal Government. Any duly appointed Board member who is a candidate for a public office shall be automatically disqualified from further membership on the Board, and the day the Board member files petitions with the County Board of Elections shall be the date of the disqualification. Nothing shall prohibit the Board 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) Board members shall be recommended 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 third 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 Board. After being duly constituted, a Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be chosen by majority vote of the Board.
(c) The Secretary of the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor and may be an employee of the Municipality.
(d) The Mayor may recommend to Council the removal of a member of the Board for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Council may remove a member of the Board from office by an affirmative vote of at least three-quarters of Council 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 counsel in his or her own defense. Such removal shall be final.
(e) The presence of two members of the Board constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof. A vacancy on the Board does not impair the right of the other members to exercise all the power of the Board.
(f) Each member of the Board shall serve without salary, but shall be paid the necessary and actual expenses expended in performing the business of the Board.
(g) To implement the stated policy of this chapter, the Board shall:
(1) Investigate all complaints of unlawful housing or employment practices which are filed with it;
(2) Initiate complaints of unlawful housing or employment practices on the basis of studies carried out by its staff or volunteers authorized by it;
(3) Endeavor, by conciliation, to resolve such complaints;
(4) Hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of a person under oath and, in connection therewith, require the production for examination of books or papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the Board;
(5) Recommend to the Mayor, when it deems necessary, educational and other programs designed to promote the purposes of this chapter; and
(6) Do other acts that are necessary and proper to perform those duties with which it is charged under this chapter.
(h) The Mayor is responsible for the administration of this chapter.
(Ord. 7-78. Passed 3-6-78.)