A.
There shall be a Commission of Human Rights
headed by a Commissioner of Human Rights who shall be appointed by
the County Executive, subject to confirmation of the Legislature,
and serve at his or her pleasure.
B.
Powers and duties. The Commissioner of Human Rights
shall address the problems of discrimination in employment, housing,
public accommodation, education and credit.
C.
Reports. On or before March 1 of each year, the Commissioner
of Human Rights shall make an annual report to the County Legislature
and County Executive for the immediately preceding calendar year,
covering generally the work of the department. The Commissioner of
Human Rights shall make such other reports at such times as may be
required by the County Legislature, County Executive or any applicable
law. Copies of all reports shall be filed with the Clerk of the County
Legislature and the County Executive.
A.
The Commission of Human Rights shall be constituted
in accordance with and exercise the powers and duties specified in
Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law and other related duties
required by the County Executive and/or the County Legislature.
B.
The Commission of Human Rights shall have 11 members appointed
to terms of three years, three members of which shall be appointed
by the legislative Chairperson, three members by the legislative minority
leader, and five members by the County Executive, one of which shall
be designated by him or her as the Commission Chairperson. Appointments
shall be representative of the various religious, racial, ethnic and
nationality groups in Ulster County's communities. No member of the
Commission of Human Rights shall serve more than four consecutive
terms of three years.
[Amended 8-14-2018 by L.L. No. 4-2018; 4-20-2021 by L.L. No. 3-2021]
C.
The Commission of Human Rights shall keep minutes
of all meetings, including the date and time of meeting and members
in attendance. The original of said minutes shall be filed with the
Clerk of the Legislature as soon as possible, but not to exceed 10
business days after the next regular Commission meeting at which the
minutes were reviewed and accepted. The Clerk of the Legislature or
his or her designee shall maintain an official record of the Commission's
agenda items. This official record shall include the disposition of
each agenda item, including individual votes of each member on each
item.
[Amended 8-14-2018 by L.L. No. 4-2018]
A.
The Commission of Human Rights shall have all of the authority,
powers, duties and obligations expressly set forth in Article 12-D
of the General Municipal Law, and shall also have the authority to
engage in processes of conference, conciliation and persuasion, with
the active assistance of the New York State Division of Human Rights
("State Division"), if needed, in the mediation and solution of complaints
within the jurisdiction of the State Division, so as to amicably resolve
such complaints, reduce tensions, build consensus, and foster harmony
between the various and diverse communities within Ulster County and
to otherwise report, but not initiate, any such complaints to the
State Division, and shall also have the authority to create bylaws
for its own governance, proceedings and activities, but shall not
exercise any powers, duties or obligations not otherwise expressly
set forth in General Municipal Law Article 12-D.
B.
The Commission is authorized to receive complaints of all
persons in Ulster County with claimed human rights violations arising
under any New York State, federal or local human rights law or regulation
occurring in Ulster County and to engage all interested parties who
consent to do so in an effort to mutually resolve such complaints
through mediation and conciliation before the Commission or its authorized
designee. In the event that no members of the Commission are able
or willing to engage in mediation or conciliation of a given complaint
as in the case of a conflict of interest then, subject to legislative
appropriation sufficient to pay the expense thereof in a sum not to
exceed $10,000 per year, such complaints may be referred upon consent
of all parties to the complaint, to an accredited community dispute
resolution center within Ulster County operated under the auspices
of Article 21-A of the Judiciary Law for the sole purpose of conducting
such a nonbinding mediation and conciliation as specified herein.
C.
The Commission or its authorized designee shall actively monitor and assist persons with such claimed human rights violations through the process administered by the State Division, or pursuant to § A30-2B hereof by the local Hearing Officer, for such claims that have not been successfully resolved by the Commission, or its authorized designee, through mediation and conciliation at the local level should such persons elect to file a discrimination claim with the State Division or the local Hearing Officer. The assistance rendered under this subsection shall not include the rendering of legal advice or legal representation to any party.
D.
The Commission or its authorized designee shall maintain
records of all complaints received by it during each calendar year
and shall make a report to the County Legislature by March 31 of each
year summarizing the number, type and disposition of such complaints.
Such annual report shall not include names or personal identifying
information of any party.
