[Adopted 4-3-1967 by Order 5-67; amended in its entirety 4-28-1980 by Res. No. 12-80 (Ch. 32, §§ 32.01 through 32.13, of the 1993 Code)]
The City of Henderson, the County of Henderson, and the City of Corydon do hereby form a City-County Human Rights Commission whose area of jurisdiction shall include Henderson County, the City of Henderson, and the City of Corydon.
[Amended 6-28-1982]
The Commission shall be comprised of 10 members. Five members shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Henderson; four members shall be appointed by the County Judge/Executive of Henderson County; and one member shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Corydon. All such appointments shall be with the advice and consent of the respective legislative bodies. The members to be appointed shall be as nearly as possible representative of the several social, economic, religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial groups which comprise the population of Henderson County. No elected or appointed official of the City of Henderson, County of Henderson, or City of Corydon may be a member of the Commission.
Each member of the Commission shall serve for a term of three years or until his or her successor is appointed. If a vacancy occurs, the official who shall have been responsible for the appointment of said member shall appoint a successor for the unexpired term. Members may be eligible for reappointment for additional terms.
A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the total membership.
Members shall serve without compensation.
The Commission shall elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary-Treasurer, and such other officers as it shall deem necessary. The Chairperson of the Commission shall appoint such other special committees from time to time as the Commission may deem necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this article. Such officers shall be elected annually.
[Added 7-15-1986 by Res. No. 34]
A. 
The employment of an Executive Director shall be approved in writing by the Henderson County Judge/Executive, the Mayor of the City of Corydon and the City Manager of the City of Henderson. The Human Rights Commission shall be responsible for advertising any vacancy in said position; shall be responsible for screening and reviewing all applications submitted; and shall recommend at least three qualified applicants to fill said position.
B. 
Any person desiring to file a complaint against the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission shall file said complaint with the Human Rights Commission. Disciplinary charges against the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission may be filed only by the joint City-County Human Rights Commission. Disciplinary charges filed pursuant to this section shall be heard by a panel consisting of the Henderson County Judge/Executive, the Mayor of the City of Corydon, the City Manager of the City of Henderson and the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission. The Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission shall be given the opportunity to answer the charges filed and present any information pertinent to said charges. Disciplinary action may be taken by the panel against the Human Rights Director in the form of a reprimand, suspension with or without pay, or dismissal based on the findings of the panel. Said action shall be taken upon a majority vote of the panel members.
A. 
The Commission shall endeavor to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic and racial groups in the City of Henderson, City of Corydon and Henderson County, and shall act as conciliator in controversies involving intergroup and interracial relations. The Commission shall cooperate with federal, state, city and County agencies in an effort to develop harmonious intergroup 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 intergroup and interracial relations and the elimination of discriminatory practices.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
The Commission shall receive complaints, conduct investigations, hold hearings, make studies and have such studies made as will enable the Commission to carry out the purposes of this article.
C. 
The Commission shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners of the City of Henderson, the Fiscal Court of the County of Henderson, and the City Council of the City of Corydon such legislation as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this agreement.
D. 
The Commission shall submit to the City of Henderson, the County of Henderson, and the City of Corydon, on or before March 1 of each year, an annual report summarizing its activities for the past calendar year.
E. 
The Commission, on behalf of the City of Henderson, County of Henderson, and City of Corydon, may accept grants and donations from foundations and others for the purpose of carrying out its function.
All expenditures shall be authorized by the Commission, which shall elect one of its members as Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall approve operational expenditures, and he/she shall make a semiannual financial report to the Commission. Copies of such semiannual financial report shall be sent to all three legislative bodies.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The services of all departments of all three legislative bodies may be made available to the Commission upon its request for such services. Information in the possession of any department, board or agency of any of such legislative bodies may be furnished to the Commission upon its request and to the extent permitted by law. Upon refusal of the director or head of any department, board or agency of any such legislative body to furnish any information which has been requested by the Commission, the matter shall be referred to the County Judge/Executive, or either of the Mayors, as the case may be, who shall determine whether such information shall be furnished to the Commission and the decision of the Mayor or County Judge/Executive, as the case may be, shall be final.
[Added 7-15-1986 by Res. No. 34]
The City of Corydon shall voluntarily pay a portion of the expenses associated with this agreement as determined on an annual basis by its legislative body, and the remaining expenses shall be equally divided between the Henderson County Fiscal Court and the City of Henderson.
The Commission shall have the power to adopt rules to govern its proceedings.