(a) Establishment; Membership. There is hereby established, by and for the Village, the Human Relations Commission, to consist of eleven members (all residents of the Village) who shall each serve for terms of three years. The members of the Commission shall be appointed, and any member so appointed may be removed for cause, by the President of the Board of Trustees, with the concurrence of the Board. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission shall be designated annually by the President, with the concurrence of the Board. The President, with the concurrence of the Board, shall fill all vacancies by appointment for the unexpired terms. The terms of office for the initial appointments shall be as follows: four members for three years, four members for two years, and three members for one year, ending April 30 of the year of expiration of the term.
(Ord. 950. Passed 6-23-97.)
(1) To receive and investigate complaints charging unlawful discriminatory acts and unfair housing practices;
(2) To initiate complaints charging unlawful discriminatory acts and unfair housing practices;
(3) To endeavor, by conciliation, to resolve any such complaint;
(4) To hold adjudicative hearings, make findings of fact and issue administrative orders and render advisory decisions with respect to any such complaints and orders in accordance with this chapter;
(5) To subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take sworn testimony, and, in connection therewith, require the production for examination of any document relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the Commission, and enforce such powers by proper petition to any court of competent jurisdiction.
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 the State.
The Chairman of the Commission or the Commission member conducting the hearing is hereby authorized to administer oaths and is required to provide for the preservation of all testimony taken by the Village and to publish its findings of fact and recommendations in accordance with this chapter.
(6) To recommend, when it deems necessary, educational and other programs designed to promote the purposes of this chapter;
(7) To recommend actions to obtain legislative, administrative or judicial relief and to support such actions to the degree commensurate with the Commission's status as a Village commission;
(8) To gather and provide for the exchange of information, relative to the provisions of this chapter among real estate agents, lending institutions, developers, employers, Municipal officials, community organizations and other persons, with an interest in effective enforcement of this chapter;
(9) To render at least once a year to the corporate authorities a written report of the Commission's activities and recommendations with respect to fair housing practices, which report shall be made public after submission to the corporate authorities;
(10) To prepare and submit to the corporate authorities a budget for the operation and staffing of the Commission;
(11) To adopt such rules and regulations as the Commission may deem necessary or desirable for the conduct of its business and to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(12) To gather current information on all Federal or State funded housing, Section 8 or other Federal programs relevant to housing financing, sales or rentals in the Village;
(13) To engage the services of an attorney, when required, subject to the approval of the corporate authorities; and
(14) To do such other acts as are necessary and proper to perform those duties with which the Commission is charged under this chapter.
(Ord. 641. Passed 4-23-84.)