(A) Establishment. There is hereby created a Simpsonville, Shelbyville and Shelby County Commission on Human Rights.
(B) Purpose. The Commission on Human Rights shall endeavor to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic, and racial groups in the cities, and county and shall act as conciliator in controversies, involving inter-group and interracial relations. The Commission shall cooperate with federal, state, county and other city agencies in an effort to develop harmonious inter-group and interracial relations and shall endeavor to enlist the support of civic, religious, labor, industrial, and commercial groups and civic leaders dedicated to the improvement of inter-group and interracial relations and the elimination of discriminatory practices.
(C) Officers. The Commission on Human Rights shall elect from its membership a Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as it shall deem necessary. The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint such committees as the rules of the Commission shall provide and such other special committees from time to time as the Commission may deem it necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this section. The Chair and all officers shall be Commission members.
(D) Members; qualifications; compensation.
(1) The Commission on Human Rights shall consist of 11 members who shall be persons who are nearly as possible representative of several social, economic, religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial groups which comprise the population of Simpsonville, Shelbyville, and Shelby County.
(2) The Mayor of the City of Simpsonville shall appoint two members who shall be residents of the city. Of the first members appointed by the Mayor, one shall be appointed for one year and one shall be appointed for two years. After the first appointments, all appointments shall be for a term of three years.
(3) The Mayor of the City of Shelbyville shall appoint four members who shall be residents of the city. Of the first four members appointed by the Mayor, one shall serve for a term of one year, one shall serve for two years, one shall serve for three years and one shall serve for four years. After the first appointments, all appointments shall be for a term of three years.
(4) The County Judge-Executive shall appoint five members who shall be residents of Shelby County, Kentucky. Of the first appointments, one shall serve for a term of one year, two shall serve for a term of two years and two shall serve for a term of three years. After the first appointments, all appointments shall be for a term of three years.
(5) All of the aforesaid appointments shall be done with the approval of the respective legislative bodies.
(6) In the event of a vacancy, the Mayor or County Judge-Executive of the respective legislative body shall appoint a member to complete the unexpired term with the approval of the respective legislative body.
(7) No elected or appointed official of Simpsonville, Shelbyville, or Shelby County, Kentucky, may be a member of the Commission.
(8) Members shall serve without compensation.
(E) Meetings; rules of procedure.
(1) The Commission on Human Rights shall meet once each month and as often as it deems necessary.
(2) The Commission shall have the power to adopt rules to govern its proceedings.
(F) Quorum. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members appointed to the Commission.
(G) Powers and duties.
(1) The Commission on Human Rights may recommend to the legislative bodies such legislation as may be considered necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(2) The Commission shall submit an annual report regarding its activities and financial status, of each year, to the legislative bodies.
(3) The Commission, on behalf of the cities and county, may accept grants and donations from foundations and others for the purpose of carrying out its functions.
(4) The Commission may receive inquiries consistent with the Mission Statement.
(5) The Commission shall have the following powers in addition to those otherwise enumerated in this section:
(a) Receive inquiries and seek to conciliate, and hold meetings on alleged discrimination.
(b) Certify the results to the legislative body and the Kentucky Human Rights Commission for action in accordance with appropriate law.
(H) Expenditures. All expenditures shall be authorized by the Commission, and they shall make a semi-annual financial report. Copies of such semi-annual financial report shall be sent to the Mayors, the County Judge-Executive, and the legislative bodies.
(I) Office space. The Mayors and County Judge-Executive are authorized to allocate adequate office space and to provide the necessary facilities for the Commission if the office space and facilities are available and approval is obtained by the local governing body that has authority over those facilities.
(Ord. 84-1, passed 2-7-1984; Am. Ord. 2009-008, passed 8-4-2009)