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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. � 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. � BY-LAWS � 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 � 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. � 1 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 � the Commission. 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. � 2 V. MEETINGS � 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 � 3 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 � 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. �.. 4 X. DISQUALIFICATION � 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 � 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. � 5 �. 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: � 6