(a) There is hereby created a Fair Housing Commission, which shall consist of five members, including the Mayor or his designee, a member of City Council, and three citizen members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council.
Of the citizen members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, and one for a term of three years, and thereafter appointments shall be for three years. Each member of the Fair Housing Commission shall continue to serve after his term until his successor has been appointed and has qualified.
(b) The members of the Fair Housing Commission shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with appropriation made by Council.
(c) All members of the Fair Housing Commission shall be qualified electors of the City.
(d) The Fair Housing Commission shall elect one of its members as Chairman, one as Vice-Chairman and one as Secretary. The Administrator shall receive all complaints in writing, shall also be responsible for preparation and delivery of notices, correspondence and other communications authorized by the Commission. The Administrator shall be responsible for the performance of such other duties as may be required by the Commission. The responsibilities of the Administrator may be delegated to the Director of the Department of Community Development who may contract for the provision of any or all such duties.
(e) A simple majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business thereof. A vacancy in the Commission shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the Commission. Any member of the Commission may be removed by the Mayor for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, after being given a written statement of the charges and an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in his or her own defense.
(f) The Fair Housing Commission shall have the responsibility to administer the provisions of this chapter and to adjudicate complaints alleging violations of Section 515.04
. All administrative proceedings prescribed in this chapter shall be conducted at the Commission's expense. The Commission shall have and may exercise the following functions, powers or duties to implement the purposes of this chapter:
(1) To hold adjudicative hearings, make findings of fact, issue orders, enforce such orders, and seek judicial and/or administrative relief with respect to any such complaints in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(2) To investigate all complaints of unlawful housing practices which are filed with it;
(3) To inform all persons bringing complaints to the Commission of their right to seek criminal or civil relief through the courts;
(4) To initiate or corroborate complaints of unlawful housing practices on the basis of studies carried out by the Department of Community Development or any agency to which the Department of Community Development has contracted out any of its duties under this chapter;
(5) To endeavor by conciliation to resolve such complaints;
(6) To subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take sworn testimony, and in connection therewith, to require the production for examination of any documents relating to any matter under investigation or in questions before the Commission, and enforce such powers by proper petition to any court of competent jurisdiction;
(7) To render at least once a year to the Mayor and to the City Council a full written report of all its activities and recommendations;
(8) To recommend to the Mayor, when it deems necessary, educational and other programs designed to promote the purpose stated in this chapter;
(9) 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; and
(10) To do such other acts as are necessary and proper to perform those duties with which the Commission is charged under this chapter.
(11) The Commission is authorized to seek the cooperation and aid of the Ohio Real Estate Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and any other person or group regarding any matter before the Commission.
(Ord. 11070/97. Passed 9-10-97.)