(a) There is hereby established in and for the City a Fair Housing Board. Said Board shall consist of three members who are qualified electors of the City and who shall not hold any public office at the Municipal, County, State or Federal level at any time while they are members of the Board. Any duly appointed Board member who is running for any public office shall be automatically disqualified from further membership on the Board. The day that a Board member files a petition with the County Board of Elections shall be the date of the disqualification. No Board member shall be appointed who is employed in any real estate or lending institution.
(b) Board members shall be appointed by the Mayor. Of the members first appointed, one shall hold office for a term of one year, one for a term of two years and the other for a term of three years. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years. The Mayor shall fill all vacancies by appointment for the unexpired term. A Board member whose term has expired shall be eligible for reappointment to the Board.
(c) The Executive Secretary of the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor and shall be an employee of the City.
(d) The Mayor may recommend to Council the removal of any member of the Board for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Council may remove a member of the Board from office by a vote of two-thirds of Council only after having first given to such member a 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. Any such removal shall be final.
(e) Two members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof. A vacancy on the Board shall not impair the right of the other members to exercise all the powers of the Board.
(f) Each member of the Board shall serve without salary, but shall be paid necessary and actual expenses expended in performing the business of the Board.
(g) The Board is charged with the following duties to implement the stated policy of this chapter:
(1) To investigate all complaints of unlawful housing practices which are filed with it;
(2) To initiate complaints of unlawful housing practices on the basis of auditing or testing carried out by its staff or volunteers authorized by the Board;
(3) To endeavor by conciliation to resolve such complaints;
(4) To hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under oath and, in connection therewith, to require the production for examination of any books or papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the Board;
(5) To render at least once a year to the Mayor and to Council a full written report of all of its activities and recommendations;
(6) To recommend to the Mayor, when it deems necessary, educational and other programs designed to promote the purposes stated in this chapter;
(7) To adopt rules and procedures for the conduct of its business; and
(8) To do such other acts, including collecting fees, that are necessary and proper in order to perform those duties with which it is charged under the terms of this chapter.
(Ord. 1979-26. Passed 3-20-79.)