[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of
the City of Peekskill 3-9-1964 by L.L. No. 1-1964 (Ch. 44 of the 1984 Code); amended
in its entirety 6-22-2015 by L.L.
No. 5-2015. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A Commission on Human Relations is hereby established by the
City of Peekskill in part in accordance with Article 12-D of the General
Municipal Law, as enacted by Chapter 376 of the Laws of 1963.
The Commission shall consist of 11 members to be appointed by
the Mayor with the approval of the Common Council. The Mayor shall
designate one of such members to be Chairman, who shall serve as Chairman
for three years.
Of the members first appointed, four shall be appointed for
terms of office of one year each, four for terms of office of two
years each and three for terms of office of three years each. Thereafter,
all appointments, except to fill vacancies, shall be for terms of
office of three years each. Vacancies occurring otherwise than by
expiration of terms of office shall be filled for the unexpired terms
of the offices so filled.
Unless salaries are provided for the members of the Commission
or for the Chairman, they shall serve without salary but may be reimbursed
for their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of
their official duties.
In making appointments to the Commission, the Mayor shall take
into consideration the various religious, racial, nationality, age,
disability, gender, sexual orientation and political groups in the
community.
A.Â
The
Commission on Human Relations hereby created shall have the power
and authority, subject to applicable civil service requirements, to
employ an Executive Director, a Secretary and such attorneys, experts
and other employees as may be necessary, within the amount made available
by the Common Council of the City of Peekskill.
B.Â
The
Common Council shall establish a budget for this Commission in such
amount as in its discretion seems adequate.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to:
A.Â
Foster
mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious, age,
disability, gender, sexual orientation and nationality groups in the
community.
B.Â
Make
such studies in any field of human relations in the community as,
in its judgment, will aid in effectuating its general purposes.
C.Â
Conduct
and recommend such educational programs as, in its judgment, will
increase goodwill among inhabitants of the community and open new
opportunities into all phases of community life for all inhabitants.
The Commission shall discharge the following obligations as
provided by Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law:
A.Â
Hold
conferences and other public meetings in the interest of and the constructive
resolution of racial, religious, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation
and nationality group tensions and the prejudice and discrimination
occasioned thereby.
B.Â
Enlist
the cooperation and participation of the various racial, religious,
age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and nationality groups,
community organizations, industrial and labor organizations, media
of mass communication, fraternal and benevolent associations and other
groups in an educational campaign devoted to fostering among the diverse
groups of the community mutual esteem, justice and equity.
C.Â
Encourage
and stimulate agencies under the jurisdiction of the Common Council
of the City of Peekskill to take such action as will fulfill the purposes
of the Human Relations Commission.
D.Â
Submit
an annual report to the Common Council.
E.Â
Any
complaints of alleged discrimination submitted to the Human Relations
Commission shall be referred to the State Commission for Human Rights,
the Westchester County Human Rights Commission or such other agency
with authority to investigate such complaints and publish such findings.
In the event the provisions of General Municipal Law, Article 12-D as such amendments relate to the provisions of this Chapter 73, are amended, such amendments shall be effective with respect to the Commission on Human Relations created hereby.
