HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-OR-1633ORDINANCE NO. 1633
AN ORDINANCE CREATING A COMMISSION
ON HUF~N RELATIONS
Section 1. Policy
There dwells in the City of Jeffersonville, a population
varying in race, color, religion, national origin and ancestry°
The peace, good order, security and welfare of the city and its
inhabitants may be threatened by the existence within it of
groups antagonistic to one another or prejudiced a§ainst eac]h
other because of differences of race, color, religion, national
origin or ancestry. The Common Council of Jeffersonville hereby
finds and declares that any prejudice, intolerance, bigotry,
disorder or discrimination occasioned thereby threatens not
only the rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but
menaces the institutions of the city.
To the end that prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, disorder
and discrimination shall be eliminated, this ordinance is enacted to
'provide an instrumentality through which the City of Jeffersonv~le
officially may encourage and bring about mutual self-respect
and understanding of each other by all groups in the city, ~d
help give effect to the guarantees of equal rights contained
in the constitution, the laws and the public policies of this
state and of the United States.
Section 2. Definitions
As used in this law:
(1) Discrimination .shall mean any differance in treatment
based on race, color religion, national origin or ancestry and
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shall include segregation, except that it shall not be discrimination
for any religious or denominational institution to prefer members
of its own religion or denomination.
(2) Religious or dinominational institution shall mean
an institution which is operated, supervised or controlled by
a religious or d~nominational organization.
Section 3. Commission on Human Relations
There is hereby created in the office of the Mayor, a
Commission on Human Relations. It shall consist of five members
serving without compensation and broadly representative of the
religious, racial, ethnic, economic, educational and political
groups in the community. They shall be appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the Common Council from the
effective date of this ordinance. Of the five members, one shall
be appointed for one year, one for two years and one for three
years, and two for four years.
In the event of the death or resignation of any member,
his successor shall be appointed to se=ye for the unexpired
period of the term for which such member had been appointed.
Members of the Commission may be removed by the Mayor for cause
but for no other reason.
The Commission shall elect from its membership once each
yaar, a chairman, vice chairman and secretary. The Commission
shall hold one regular meeting each month and such special meetings
as the chairman may deem necessary.
Section 4. Functions of the Commission
It shall be the duty of the commission:
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(a) To make such investigations and studies in any field
of human relations in the community as in the judgment of the
commission will aid in effectuating its general purposes.
(b) To inquire into incidents of division and conflict
based upon discrimination because of race, color, religion, national
origin or ancestry and seek to correct the same by recommending
to appropriateagencies, either public or private, such actions
as may be considered necessary or helpful in eliminating such
discrimination.
(c) To conduct and recommend such educational and other
programs as, in the judgment of the Commission, will increase
good will among inhabitants of the community and assure equal
opportunities in all phases of community life for all inhabitants
regardless of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry.
Section 5. Powers and duties of the Commission
The Commission is empowered:
(1) To act as conciliator in matters involving race,
color, religion, national origin or ancestry.
(2) To receive and investigate complaints and to initiate
its own investigation of rac~l, religious and ethnic group tensions,
prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and disorder and practices of
discrimination against any person because of race, color, religion,
national origin or ancestry, including discrimination by any
city official or city agency against any individual, corporation
or association, and to develop programs and techniques designed
to bring about the elimination of such discrimination.
(3) To take any evidence relating to any matter under
investigation or in question before the commission. The Commission
after the completion of any investigation shall make a report
in writing to the Mayor setting forth the facts found by it
and its recommendations and shall use its best efforts to bring
about compliance with its recommendations.
(4) To appoint an executive director or such personnel
as it may deem necessary and to fix the compensation within the
limits of any funds made available to the Commission. The expenses
for the carrying on of the Commission's activities shall be
paid out of such funds as may be budgeted by the City Council.
The Commission shall in addition be authorized to accept contri-
butions from other sources to carry on its work generally or
earmarked for a particular function.
(5) To create such advisory coLm=ittees and sub-committees
as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the purposes of this
ordinance.
(6) To recommend to the Mayor and Common Council of Jeffer-
sonville legislation to aid in carrying out the purposes of this
ordinance.
(7) To submit an annual report to the Mayor and the Common
Council of Jeffersonville.
Section 6. Relations with the city departments,and agencies
The services of all other city departments and agencies
may be made agailable by their respective heads to the Commission
at its request and information in the possession of any department
or agency shall be furnished to the Commission when it is requested.
The Commission may make recommendations to such departments
and agencies for the effectuating of the purposes of this ordinance.
Section 7. Relationship to the Indiana Civil Rish,ts Commission
The Commission shall when requested act in an advisory capacity
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to and otherwise cooperate with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission
wherever possible to effect compliance with state laws.
Section 8. Separability.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act,
or the application thereofto any person or circumstances shall
for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such judgment shall not effect, impair or invalidate
the remainder of this Act or the application thereof toother
persons or circumstances.
Section 9. Effective Dat~.
This local taw shall take effect in~nediately.
Passed by the Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville
this C~ day o~-Mer~h, 1965.
President
Presented by me to the Mayor ~r his approval this
~1965.
The above ordinance is approved by me this
day of
Clerk-~asurer
day of~
1965.
Clerk-Treasurer