[Adopted 9-3-1974 by Ord. No. 280-74]
[Amended 4-3-1990 by Ord. No. 122-90; 2-7-1995 by Ord. No. 21-94; 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014]
It is the policy of the City of Fitchburg to see that each individual, regardless of his or her race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, children, marital status, veteran history, public assistance recipiency, handicap, disability or sexual orientation, provided that the term "sexual orientation" shall not include persons whose sexual orientation involves minor children as sex objects, shall have equal opportunity in or access to employment, housing, education, recreation and public accommodations; to assure that each individual shall have equal access to and benefit from all public services; to protect each individual in the enjoyment of his or her civil rights; and to encourage and bring about mutual understanding and respect among all individuals in the City by the elimination of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, discrimination and the disorder occasioned thereby.
There is hereby established a municipal board to be known as the "Human Rights Commission of the City of Fitchburg" (hereinafter referred to as "Commission").
[Amended 2-7-1995 by Ord. No. 21-94; 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014; 1-5-2017 by Ord. No. 288-2016]
The Commission shall consist of nine members who shall be residents of the City throughout their terms of office, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council for terms of three years; provided, however, that of the members first appointed to the Commission, one shall be appointed to a term of one year, two shall be appointed for terms of two years and two shall be appointed for terms of three years. Thereafter, the Mayor shall appoint and the Council confirm each successor to a term of three years. In addition to the nine full members of the Commission, the Commission may have two associate members. The associate members shall be residents of the City throughout his or her term of office, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council for a term of three years. The associate member shall have the authority to vote on matters before the Commission in the case of absence, inability to act or conflict of interest on the part of any member of the Commission or in the event of a vacancy on the Commission.
The function of the Commission shall be to further the goals, aims and purposes of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination as established by MGL c. 6, § 56, to enforce Chapters 151B and 151C and §§ 92A and 98 of Chapter 272 of the Massachusetts General Laws regarding the protection of the civil rights of the citizens of the commonwealth, and to implement the policy of this article by the exercise of the following powers and duties:
A. 
To receive and investigate complaints of, and to initiate its own investigation of:
(1) 
The denial of equal access to and discrimination in employment, housing, education, recreation and public accommodations (regardless of the public or private source of such denial and discrimination) where such denial or discrimination against either an individual or group is based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, children, marital status, veteran history, public assistance recipiency, blindness or hearing impairment.
[Amended 4-3-1990 by Ord. No. 122-90]
(2) 
The denial to any person or group of equal access to and benefit from all public services.
(3) 
The violation of the enjoyment and exercise by any person or group of his or her or its civil rights.
[Amended 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014]
(4) 
The presence in the City of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, discrimination and the disorder occasioned thereby.
B. 
To attempt by mediation to resolve any complaint over which it has jurisdiction and to recommend to the Mayor or other appropriate governmental agency, federal, state or local, such action as it feels will resolve any such complaint.
C. 
To issue, as a majority of the Commission voting in formal session shall prescribe, such reports and publications and such results of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote goodwill and minimize or eliminate discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, children, marital status, veteran history, public assistance recipiency, blindness or hearing impairment; provided, however, that such report or publication or results of investigation or research shall be simultaneously transmitted to the Mayor.
[Amended 4-3-1990 by Ord. No. 122-90]
D. 
To create such subcommittees from the members of the Commission and the Committee as in the Commission's judgment will best aid in effectuating the policy of this article and to empower such subcommittees to study the problems of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination prevailing in the City of Fitchburg.
E. 
To make such recommendations to the Mayor as in its judgment will effectuate the policy of the article and annually to make a written report to the Mayor and City Council of its activities.
F. 
To perform such other duties as may be prescribed under law.
The Commission may, with the approval of the Mayor and City Council, on behalf of the City of Fitchburg, accept contributions, grants and appropriations from other governmental agencies and from civic and charitable foundations, trusts and other organizations, private or public, to effectuate the policy of this article.
So far as practicable and subject to the approval of the Mayor or, in the case of the School Department, the School Committee, the services of all other City departments, agencies and commissions may be made available to the Commission for effectuating the policy of this article.