HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 11/23/1999 - Human Relations Commission (2) � CITY OF McHENRY
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
Meeting was c,�lled to order at 7:09 P.M. The following members were present: Gwen
Doolan, Kari Horsch, Jason Glaw, Werner Ellmann, Patricia Buhrman, Sue Becker,
Jose Lagunas, Dr. Seifer. Excused absences: Val Hobson, Linda Wolff, Julie Babenko
Unexcused absence John Christensen.
Approval of Minutes
Horsch made motion to accept minutes as read, seconded by Doolan. Motion carried
unanimously.
Old Business
Dr. Seifer made a proposal to hold a Town Hall Meeting in December. Motion failed for
lack of second.
Gwen Doolan asked for a letter of recommendation for a library "Diversity Grant".
Doolan made the motion Becker seconded motion carried unanimously.
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By-laws were gone over and will be presented for a final discussion and vote at the
next meeting.
Pat Buhrman reported on the "Silent Vigil" in response to the Cross Burning. Werner
Ellmann voiced his objection that proper proceedures were not followed. A discussion
followed.
Pat Buhrman spoke about the Celebration at MCC for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Pat Buhrman made a motion to cancel the December meeting seconded by Ellmann
motion carred unanimously.
Public Participation
There was no public participation.
Adiournment
Motion was made by Horsch to adjourn meeting at 8:15 seconded by Ellmann, motion
carried unanimously.
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BY-LAWS
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CITY OF McHENRY
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
I. BACKGROUND
The City of McHenry is a community rich in history, tradition, and cultural diversity.
Currently, the community is experiencing rapid population growth and changing social
patterns as it evolves to become a viable part of a complex urban area. As the city grows and
prospers, it is important that our community provides a living environment that is free from
prejudice, discrimination, persecution, racism, and intolerance. To this end, the Mayor of the
City of McHenry has recommended (and the City Council has approved) the establishment of
the City of McHenry Human Relations Commission as a viable means to foster ethnic diversity
and actively promote the constitutional ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness free
from hatred, bigotry, discrimination, and violence.
II. PURPOSE
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It shall be the purpose of the McHenry Human Relations Commission to provide a
living environment that is free from prejudice, discrimination, persecution, racism, and
intolerance for all persons who live, work, or visit the city of McHenry.
III. MEMBERSHIP
The Commission shall consist of (13) members: two(2) high school students; twelve
(10) McHenry citizens-at-large, and the Mayor as an Ex-Officio Member. Said citizens shall
represent a broad diversity of backgrounds with respect to race, creed, ethnicity, sex, and
age. The Mayor of the City Council shall appoint said Members.
A. TERM: Commission Members shall be appointed for two year terms and
four year terms. Said terms shall begin as of the date of appointment. Initial
appointees shall draw by lot to determine the length of their terms. Said
drawing shall occur at the organizational meeting. Members may serve two
consecutive terms.
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B. VACANCIES: When a position on the Commission becomes vacant, the
vacancy shall be filled in a timely fashion in the same manner of
�.. appointment and by a person of the same qualifications as prescribed in
section III. above.
C. ABSENCES: Whenever a Commission Member fails to attend three
consecutive Commission meetings without transmitting a prior notification
to the Chair, or Secretary of the Commission, such a Member's
membership shall be deemed to have been terminated. the subsequent
vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Section III. B. above.
IV. OFFICERS
There shall be a Chair, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary of the Commission. The Chair
shall be designated by the Mayor of the City of McHenry at the time of the appointment. The
Vice-Chair and the Secretary shall be elected by the Commission members from among the
Commission Membership.
A. DUTIES:
1. CHAIR: Shall preside at all Commission meeting; appoint
Subcommittees with the advice and consent of the Commission; sign all
Resolutions and non-contractual documents requiring to be executed on
behalf of the Commission: and perform such other duties as prescribed by
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2. VICE-CHAIR: Shall serve, perform all duties and exercise all powers
of the Chair in the absence of or given the inability of the Chair to
act. The Vice-Chair shall assist the Chair as requested.
3. SECRETARY: Shall provide notices for all regularly scheduled meetings
of the Commission and its Subcommittees; provide an agenda and related
documents for each such meeting for general distribution; prepare
minutes of all meetings of the Commission and its Subcommittees; and
maintain all records of the Commission's operations. The City of
McHenry shall provide clerical support to the Commission and its
Secretary, as required.
B. TERMS: officers shall serve from the date of their appointmenUelection for a
term of two (2) years.
C. SUCCESSION: Officers may serve two (2) consecutive terms.
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V. MEETINGS
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All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public and shall be conducted in
accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act as may be amended from time to time.
A. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: The first meeting of the Commission shall be an
organizational meeting and shall be held after the appointment of all Members.
At said meeting, the Commission shall, at a minimum adopt by-laws, elect
officers, draw lots for the length of Member terms, and initiate a work plan.
B. REGULAR MEETINGS: There shall be regularly scheduled monthly meetings of
the Commission. The Commission shall set the schedule of ineetings.
C. SPECIAL OR EMERGENCY MEETINGS: The Chair may call special or
emergency meetings of the Commission on her/his own initiative or at the
request of one-third of the Commission Members (4). Notice of special meetings
shall be given at least two business days prior to such meetings to each
Commission Member. Notice of emergency meetings shall be given with as
much notice as possible to the Commission Members. The notice shall include
the time, date and location of the special or emergency meeting. Business
conducted at a special or emergency meeting shall be limited to those items
specified in the agenda for said meeting(s).
� D. PLACE: All meetings of the Commission shall be held in the McHenry Municipal
Center, unless otherwise designated by the Commission.
E. ORDER OF BUSINESS: The Commission shall generally observe the following
order of business at all meetings of the Commission and its Subcommittees:
1. Call to order
2. Roll Call of Members
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Quote
5. Old Business
6. New Business
7. Reports to the Commission
8. Members Comments, Miscellaneous Business and Announcements
9. Public Participation
10. Adjournment
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VI. SUBCOMMITTEES
� The Chair may appoint, with the consent of the Commission, and Subcommittees
deemed appropriate.
VII. QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Commission Members (7). A quorum shall
be required for the conduct of business by the Commission. A quorum of any Subcommittee
subsequently appointed shall be a majority of Members of the Subcommittee.
VIII. VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Each Commission Member is entitled to one (1) vote on all matters coming before the
Commission and requiring a vote of the Commission. The vote must be cast by the Member,
who must ve in attendance at a dully appointed, legally called meeting of the Commission. No
proxy votes or absentee voting shall be permitted.
The concurrence of a majority of the total ICommission Members (7) in necessary for
the passage of any motion incurring any financial obligation. All other actions of the
Commission shatl require a majority of the Commission Members present, provided there is a
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quorum present.
A vote on a motion to reconsideration may be made at any time prior to the
adjournment of the meeting a which the original motion was voted upon. A motion for
reconsideration must be made by Commission Members who voted on the prevailing side of
the original motion.
IX. RULES OF ORDER
The Chair shall preside at all Commission meetings, preserve decorum and conduct
said meetings in an orderly fashion. The Chair may speak to points of order and shall decide
all questions of procedure. The Chair shall vote in case of a tie and may vote on any matter
before the Commission. Questions of procedure for the meetings of the Commission not
covered by these By-laws shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order,
Revised. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct, the Chair shall have the power to
remove the cause of the disturbance or suspend the meeting.
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X. DISQUALIFICATION
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No Commission Member who has an individual financial or other material interest in
any matter coming before the Commission shall participate in the deliberations or the
decisions in such matters. Furthermore, Members who recognize that they may have such an
interest shall so state during the public deliberations of the Commission.
XI. RESCISSION
No action of the Commission shall be rescinded at any special meeting of the
Commission unless there shall be present at such special meeting at least as many Members
as were present at the meeting at which such action was originally approved.
XII. DURATION
The Commission shall continue to exist in perpetuity or until such time as the McHenry
City Council formally terminates the establishment of said Commission.
XIII. AMENDMENT
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These By-Laws may be amended by Resolution of the Commission by simple majority
of those voting at a regular or special meeting thereof.
XIV. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these By-Laws is found to be invalid for any reason, such
invalidation shall not affect other provisions of the By-Laws which can be given effect without
the invalid provisions, and to this end, to provisions of these By-Laws are to be severable.
XV. STAFF SUPPORT
The Commission shall have staff support from the City of McHenry Administrator.
XVI. LEGAL COUNSEL
The Council may seek appropriate legal advice if, and /or when, it is needed from the
City of McHenry legal counsel.
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�. XVII. REPORTING
The Commission shall make regular reports of its activities to the McHenry City
Council.
XVIII. FINANCES AND RELATED CITY MATTERS
Requests for expenditure of funds shall require a majority vote of the total Commission
Members (7). Approved requests shall be transmitted to the City Administrator who shall
process said requests in accordance with the City of McHenry Municipal guidelines. All other
requests for City assistance/support shall be transmitted to the City Administrator for
presentation to the appropriate Standing Committee of the City Council.
XIX. EFFECTIVE DATE
These By-Laws shall become effective upon approval of the Commission. Any
amendment to these By-Laws shall take effect immediately upon approval by the Commission.
� APPROVED:
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