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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinances Book 15, Page 304, No Ordinance Number3 04 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners and the Mayor of the City of Paducah find that prejudice and the practice of discrimina- tion against any individual or group because of race, creed, color, or national origin, is contrary to good public policy and detrimen- tal to the peace, progress, and welfare of the City, and WHEREAS, the lack of full participation of any individual in the privileges of full membership in the community retards the progress of the community, and affects the general well-being of all its citizens. WHEREAS, for these reasons and to implement a constructive approach to the problems involved in improving inter -group and inter -racial relations leading to the elimination of discriminatory practices in the City, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH: SECTION 1, That there is hereby established a City of Paducah Human Rights Commission. SECTION 2, The Commission shall be composed of not less than fifteen (15) members nor more than twenty five (25) members. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor who shall select persons who are nearly as possible representative of the several social, economic, religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial groups which com- price the population of the Greater Paducah Area. In addition, each member shall be a resident of the Greater Paducah Area. No elected or appointed official of the City of Paducah or of McCracken County may be a member of the Commission. SECTION 3, Initially the members of the Commission shall be appointed to serve for a term of one (1) year, and members appointed after the original appointment shall serve for a term of one (1) year each. Members may be eligible for reappointment for additional terms. SECTION 4, A quorum shall consist of eight (8) members. SECTION 5, Members shall serve without compensation, but subject to the approval of the Commission and within the limits im- posed by the budget, they shall be allowed their necessary expenses attendant upon their duties. SECTION 6. The Mayor shall designate one of the members of said Commission as Chairman who shall serve as Chairman at the pleasure of the Mayor. 305 SECTION 7-a. The Commission shall endeavor to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, ethnic, religious, and racial groups in the City of Paducah, and shall act as conciliator in controversies involving inter -group and inter -racial relations. The Commission shall cooperate with Federal, State, and other City agencies in an effort to develop harmonious inter -group and inter -racial relations and shall endeavor to enlist the support of civic, religious, labor, industrial, and commercial groups and civic leaders dedicated to the improvement of inter -group and inter -racial relations and the elimination of discriminatory practices. SECTION 7-b. The Commission shall receive complaints, con- duct investigations, hold hearings, make studies and have such studies made as will enable the Commission to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance. SECTION 7-c. The Commission shall recommend to the Mayor and to the Board of Commissioners such legislation as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this ordinance. SECTION 7-d. The Commission shall submit an annual report on March 1, of each year to the Mayor and to the Board of Commissioners. Section 7-e. The Commission, on behalf of the City of Paducah, may accept grants and donations from foundations and others for the purpose of carrying out its functions. SECTION 8. The Commission shall prepare annually a budget for the ensuinF fiscal year, and shall submit such budget to the Mayor and the Board of Commissioners for their approval. Except for its initial year, the Commission shall prepare and submit such budget no later than March 15, of each year. SECTION 9. All budgetary expenditures shall be authorized by the Commission which shall elect one of its members as treasurer. The Treasurer shall approve operational expenditures, and he shall make a semi-annual financial report to the Commission. Copies of such semi-annual financial report shall be sent to the Mayor and the Board of Commissioners. SECTION 10. The services of all other departments of the City of Paducah shall be made available to the Commission upon its request for such services. Information in the possession of any department, board, or agency of the City of Paducah shall be furnished to the Commission upon its request, and to the extent permitted by law. Upon the refusal of the Director or Head of any department, board, or agency of the City to furnish any information which has 306 been requested by the Commission, the matter shall be referred to the i Mayor who shall determine whether such information shall be furnished to the Commission, and the decision of the Mayor shall be final. SECTION 11. The Commission shall have the power to adopt rules to givern its proceedings. The meetings of the Commission shall be opened or closed to the public as it may deem best in its discretion. SECTION 12. The Commission shall meet as often as it deems necessary, but it shall meet not less than once each month. SECTION 13. The Commission shall elect a secretary, a treas- urer, and such other officers, except the Chairman who shall have been designated by the Mayor, as it shall deem necessary. The Chair- man of the Commission shall appoint such committees as the rules of the Commission shall provide and such other special committees from time to time as the Commission may deem necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance. SECTION 11,.. The Mayor is authorized to allocate adequate office space and to provide the necessary facilities in the City Hall for said Commission if the office space and facilities are available. SECTION 15. If any provision of this ordinance or application of such provision or provisions to any person or circumstance shall bw held to be invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance or the application of such provision to persons, or circumstances other than those as to which it shall have been held to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. SECTION 16. This Ordinance shall become effective upon its passage by the Board of Commissioners. Mayor Passed by the Board of Commissioners May 26, 1964 Recorded by Sarah Thurman, City Clerk, May 26, 1964.