[Code 1961, § 13.19.01; Ord. No.
67-1, 2-20-1967; Ord. No. 74-1, 2-25-1974; Ord. No. 75-5, 10-6-1975]
There is hereby created a Commission on Human Relations of the
Town. The Commission shall consist of nine members and four alternates
who shall be appointed by the Council and who shall serve without
compensation. Of the nine members first appointed, three shall be
appointed for one year; three for two years; and three for three years.
Thereafter, all appointments to the Commission shall be for a term
of three years. Each alternate shall be appointed for a term of three
years. In the event of the death or resignation of any member of the
Commission, a successor shall be appointed by the Council to serve
the unexpired portion of the term for which such member had been appointed.
As far as possible, the Commission shall represent a cross section
of the Town, and all members must be residents of the Town. A member
of the Council, a member of the Board of Education, the Town Manager,
and the Superintendent of Schools shall be members ex-officio of the
Commission without power of vote. The Commission shall elect its own
chairperson from among its members and such other officers as it may
deem necessary.
[Code 1961, § 13.19.02; Ord. No.
67-1, 2-20-1967; Ord. No. 74-1, 2-25-1974; Ord. No. 75-5, 10-6-1975]
The Commission shall hold meetings at such regular intervals
as it may designate. Any four members of the Commission may, in writing,
request that the chairperson call a special meeting for a specific
purpose or purposes, and the chairperson shall call such meeting in
accordance with such request. A quorum shall consist of five voting
members and the approval of the majority of those members present
and voting shall be required for approval of any action taken.
[Code 1961, § 13.19.03; Ord. No.
67-1, 2-20-1967]
The Commission shall be dedicated to the promotion of better
understanding and respect among racial, religious and ethnic groups
and individuals in the Town.
It shall pursue a community-wide program of education to further
inter-group understanding and to discourage and eliminate prejudice,
intolerance, bigotry and discrimination.
It shall concern itself with equal opportunities in housing
and employment for all said groups and individuals and other areas
where tensions between persons or groups exists or might exist.
[Code 1961, § 13.19.04; Ord. No.
67-1, 2-20-1967; Ord. No. 74-1, 2-25-1974; Ord. No. 75-5, 10-6-1975]
The Commission shall be charged with the following duties:
(1)
To cooperate with federal and state, and other Town agencies in developing
an educational program for presentation to the public in public and
private schools, public libraries and such other suitable places of
assembly as techniques for achieving harmonious inter-group and personal
relations within the Town.
(2)
To study the field of human relations generally and to determine
principles and practices which might be applied within the Town.
(3)
To seek voluntary compliance with state and federal laws relating
to civil rights.
(4)
To enlist the cooperation of all groups in programs and campaigns
devoted to eliminating the causes of the problems coming within the
scope of the Commission's functions.
(5)
To study human relations problems referred to it by the Council or
Town Manager.
(6)
To receive and study complaints of discrimination on the basis of
age or sex or racial, religious or ethnic identification and to refer
such complaint to the proper agency having jurisdiction in the particular
matter.
(7)
To recommend to the Council such ordinances or programs as it may
deem necessary to deal with existing or potential human relations
problems.
(8)
To submit to the Council annually, or more frequently as the Council
may prescribe or the Commission may deem advisable, reports concerning
the activities of the Commission.
