So just as nominees were up for approval to serve on the Human Relations Commission Monday, it turned out no one could state the purpose of the commission. I must admit, even after covering city government for 30 years, I myself could not have named its duties. I do remember being at a Human Relations Commission hearing on alleged police brutality many years ago and recall the commission's purpose as having to do with race relations. Of course, the thing to do nowadays is look it up online, so here is the purpose as stated in the Municipal Code:
The Human Relations Commission shall:
The Human Relations Commission shall:
A. Advise and consult with the City Council, Mayor, City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator, and Department Directors concerning proposed and existing municipal ordinances or resolutions, administrative directives and departmental or divisional policies and when requested by appointing authority render advice as to the appointments to Boards, Commissions and public bodies and for appointments of administrative employees.
B. Exercises such powers as are allocated to a Human Relations Commission under State Statute NJSA 10:5-10 in such capacity shall attempt to foster through community effort or otherwise, good will, cooperation and conciliation among groups and elements of the inhabitants of the City as well as to make recommendations to the City Council for the development of policies and procedures in general and for programs of formal and informal education that will aid in eliminating all types of discrimination based upon race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status or sex.
C. When requested by the Mayor, City Administrator, or Deputy Administrator, may hear and render advisory opinions on any complaint brought before the Office of Information and Complaints and may request of the Mayor, City Administrator or Deputy City Administrator permission to review any such complaint.
OK, I get Part B, but Part A sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare and Part C refers to an office I never heard of. I do know that before the role of Deputy City Administrator was changed to leading economic development, the charge was that of an ombudsman for the people. That would explain the part about dealing with complaints.
But here's another little-remembered fact about the commission. In the Municipal Code it was empowered to have a director and staff. Shhh, don't tell - we don't need any more new positions.
But here's another little-remembered fact about the commission. In the Municipal Code it was empowered to have a director and staff. Shhh, don't tell - we don't need any more new positions.
From the Municipal Code:
Sec. 2:5-5. Human Relations Commission Director; staff.
(a) The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, and after prior consultation with the Human Relations Commission, shall appoint a Director of the Human Relations Commission.
(b) The Director of the Human Relations Commission shall provide staff and research assistance to the Human Relations Commission and shall be responsible to the Deputy City Administrator to provide staff services in the field of human relations, including but not limited to educational programs, liaison activities with private community agencies and individual citizen groups.
(R.O. 1957, 2:21-1 through 4, as amended Oct. 5, 1970 and A.C. 1969, 3.5.)
Sorry this doesn't clear things up entirely, but the revisions to the office of Deputy City Administrator made other parts of the code murky. If you ever saw the two huge binders containing the Code, you could see how changes in one part might accidentally make other parts wrong.
(a) The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, and after prior consultation with the Human Relations Commission, shall appoint a Director of the Human Relations Commission.
(b) The Director of the Human Relations Commission shall provide staff and research assistance to the Human Relations Commission and shall be responsible to the Deputy City Administrator to provide staff services in the field of human relations, including but not limited to educational programs, liaison activities with private community agencies and individual citizen groups.
(R.O. 1957, 2:21-1 through 4, as amended Oct. 5, 1970 and A.C. 1969, 3.5.)
Sorry this doesn't clear things up entirely, but the revisions to the office of Deputy City Administrator made other parts of the code murky. If you ever saw the two huge binders containing the Code, you could see how changes in one part might accidentally make other parts wrong.
For now, Part B sounds like plenty of work for the commission and we wish all the new members well in addressing that charge.
--Bernice
I think you brought this up to begin with after all that business about people on the verge of 'erupting'. There's great power to muddle the bureaucratic landscape when the motivation for action begins with politicians first putting their finger in their mouth, and then presenting it to the wind.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting chart of 1. City Staff & 2. Commisions, advisory, task forces etc. would be interesting. Whom reports to who is not easily understood by workers or citizens.
ReplyDeletethe first thing the commission have to do is recoginize that there is a human relations problem in plainfield and its tied to economics or the lack of it, and oft times the unjustified profiling of blacks young and old by plfd police for example if 2 or more blacks gather peacefully in public space its a problem and they are told disperse but if 20 people of a different ethnic background occupy the towns street corners its not a problem , when you begin tell speak about these plfd truths some call you a troublemaker but in truth your a peacemaker because you see the need for human relation and understand the course this city should take in regard to human relations and where theres no justice theres no peace, the one thing all humans can relate to is economic developement that produces jobs that in return allow familys to be fed, and good quality education obtained and progress being made by all residents of plfd
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