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Town of Greenfield, MA
Franklin County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (4) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Greenfield as amended 6-15-2011 by Order No. FY 11-106 (Ch. 34, Art. VIII, of the 2002 Bylaws). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the Town to protect and promote the constitutional, civil and human rights of all people within the Town from any actions or incidences occurring within the Town. Further, the Town asserts that:
A. 
All people have certain inalienable rights, including the rights to life, liberty, property, the pursuit of happiness and equal justice under the laws of the United States, the commonwealth and the Town of Greenfield.
B. 
No person shall have these rights constrained, reduced, ignored or violated; all people shall be protected in the exercise of these human and civil rights.
C. 
No person shall be unlawfully discriminated against, in matters of housing, employment, education, or public accommodations, on the basis of: age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin, race, religious creed, sex or sexual orientation.
D. 
The Greenfield Human Rights Commission shall work toward mutual respect and understanding among all individuals and groups of the Town through improving the quality of public discourse and eliminating unlawful discrimination.
A. 
There shall be in the Town a commission known as the "Greenfield Human Rights Commission," hereinafter called the "Commission," which shall consist of nine members appointed by the Mayor.
B. 
The Commissioners shall serve a term of three years; provided, however, that of the members first appointed to the Commission, three shall be appointed to a term of one year, three shall be appointed to a term of two years, and three shall be appointed to a term of three years. Thereafter the Mayor shall appoint each successor to a term of three years. In the event of death or resignation of any member, a successor shall be appointed to serve for the unexpired term for which the member has been appointed.
A. 
The Commission at all times shall strive to be representative of all socioeconomic and racial segments of the Town as well as different neighborhoods.
B. 
Commissioners must be residents of the Town at the time of their appointment and throughout their tenure and serve without compensation.
A. 
The members of the Commission shall annually elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among their members who shall not hold that office for more than two consecutive terms. The Commission may elect other officers with the permission of the Mayor.
B. 
Subject to the approval of the Mayor, the Commission shall adopt a set of rules for its administration which are consistent with the laws of the commonwealth and ordinances of the Town.
C. 
Five members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.
The Human Rights Commission is established:
A. 
To improve the quality of life of the Town by enlisting community-based groups in educational programs and campaigns to increase mutual self-respect, harmonious intergroup relations and the peaceful enjoyment of life in our diverse community.
B. 
To respond to complaints by persons who believe that their human or civil rights, as defined by existing local, state and federal law, have been violated in Greenfield.
C. 
To initiate investigations into circumstances for which a formal complaint is received or where cases of alleged discrimination are brought to the Commission by other Town boards, commissions or officials.
D. 
To work with municipal government departments, the School Department, commissions and boards, to increase compliance with appropriate local, state and federal laws and to raise the level of awareness and sensitivity to human rights issues in municipal business with the public through workforce-wide required training programs.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The powers and duties of the Commission shall include the following:
A. 
To obtain information and documents, request staff support and other help as necessary from other Town departments, including the School Department.
B. 
To publish reports and other documents.
C. 
To initiate investigations into the existence of unlawful discrimination in the Town which may deny or tend to deny equal access or opportunity in matters of housing, employment, education, or public accommodations on the basis of: age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin, race, religious creed, sex or sexual orientation, and in connection therewith to hold administrative hearings.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
D. 
To attempt by negotiation to resolve all complaints that come before it and recommend to all appropriate governmental agencies, federal, state or local, such action as will resolve such complaint.
E. 
To refer complaints, when appropriate, to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, or other agency, for resolution.
F. 
To raise funds, subject to the Commission's internal rules of conduct and conflict of interest, for the use of the Commission and to accept money, gifts and services for its exclusive use and expend or use the same.
G. 
To publish as a public document its bylaws, policies, and practices for both internal functions and external activities, excluding those documents which are confidential under federal or state law.
H. 
To publish its rules of procedure for the conduct of its investigations, hearings, and negotiations. Said rules shall ensure the due process rights of all persons and/or entities involved in an investigation. At any hearing before the Commission, or any committee thereof, a witness shall have the right to be advised and represented by counsel.
I. 
To render to the Mayor a full written report of its activities and its recommendations, not less than once a year.
J. 
To expend, with approval of the Mayor, such funds as are appropriated for the aforementioned purposes. The Commission shall annually prepare an operating budget in a timely manner.
All Commission records shall be public except those that are necessary to ensure privacy rights under state or federal laws and those that are excluded under MGL c. 4, § 7(26).
This chapter shall not apply to the official actions of Town of Greenfield officers or employees or any members of boards or commissions of the Town.