By-laws

Waterloo Commission On Human Rights

Article I - Members

Section I. The Waterloo Human Rights Commission shall be composed of nine (9) members, broadly representative of the community, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council of Waterloo, Iowa.

Section II. Each member shall be appointed for a designated term of three (3) years. Appointments or reappointments shall be made in such a way that only three (3) members are appointed or reappointed at one time except every third Commission class, when four (4) members must be appointed or reappointed.

Section III. The above appointment process shall fill vacancies occurring upon resignation of a commissioner for that unexpired term.

Article II - Officers

Section I. The officers of this Commission shall be a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson each of whom shall be elected for a term of one (1) year unless otherwise provided. The Commission's office secretary shall act as Secretary for the Commission.

Section II. The term for Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of the calendar year. Revised 2-12-98

Section III. Any vacancies occurring for Chairperson and/or Vice-Chairperson shall be filled by special election.

Article III - Duties of Officers

Section I. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings. She/he shall act as spokesperson for the Commission on subjects on which the Commission has taken a position/stand. (See Article VII regarding Committees.) Revised 2/98

Section II. The Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of Chairperson in the event of the Chairperson's absence or incapacity.

Section III. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and tapes of closed session of the Commission, maintain a list of members, send meeting notices and agendas.

Article IV - Staff

Section I. The Commission shall employ an Executive Director as per Section 20-4(c) of the Ordinance. The Commission shall follow the Civil Service rules and procedures in hiring a director and recommend a candidate for employment to the Mayor. The Executive Director shall be directly responsible to the Commission and shall have the duty of hiring and training and supervising staff to perform their duties.

Section II. The Executive Director will follow the City's Personnel Policies and Civil Service rules and procedures in supervising, training, rewarding, recognizing, and disciplining staff.

Section III.  Each staff member shall have a copy of the employment policies to which she/he is subject.

Article V - Schedule and Quorum for Meetings

Section I. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held monthly at a time and place set by the Commission.

Section II. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or upon the request of three (3) members.

Section III. The presence of 1/2 plus 1 of the Commission members, one of whom must be the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson, shall constitute a quorum.

Section IV. Revised edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall be the authority for parliamentary procedure governing the meetings of the Commission in all cases unless they conflict with the Waterloo Human Rights Ordinance and/or these By-Laws.

Article VI - Attendance at Meetings

Section I. Regular attendance of all members is a requirement of an effective commission. Absence constitutes a breach in the performance of effective membership. Excused absences shall be limited to four (4) meetings during a twelve-month calendar year. More than four (4) excused absences or two (2) unexcused absences during a twelve-month calendar year are grounds for removal as a Commission member. Revised 9-4-98

Section II. After one unexcused absence or two (2) excused absences a letter over the signature of the Commission Chairperson explaining concern over the absence(s), will be sent to the faulting Commissioner.

Section III. After the 2nd unexcused or 3rd excused absence the Commission Chairperson will ask the Mayor to declare the seat vacant and to appoint a new Commissioner to fill the unexpired term.

Article VII - Committees

Section I. Necessary committees may be established through the vote of the Commissioners. The Chairperson shall appoint chairpersons and members to serve on those committees.

Section II. There may be an Executive Committee consisting of the Commission officers and Executive Director.

Section III. The Chairperson of the Commission shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three (3) Commissioners which shall be responsible for making nominations for officers to the Commission, for notifying the Mayor of vacancies, and for recommending to the Mayor persons for appointment as Commissioners.

Article VIII - Conflict of interest

Section I. Whenever a Commissioner, because of a relationship or a friendship or a commitment to a point of view, is unable to be objective in the consideration of the merits of a case (or that there could be the appearance of a conflict of interest), that Commissioner shall abstain herself/himself from any involvement in that particular case. Revised 9/98

Article IX - Confidentiality

Section I. Neither Commissioners nor staff shall disclose any information regarding any case within the purview of the Commission prior to public hearing. (See City Code 2-10-4)

Article X - Amendment to the By-Law

Section I. These By-Laws may be amended at any regular or called meeting of the Commission. Notice of the proposed amendments shall be enclosed with the notice of the meeting. If they are to be amended at a specially called meeting, notice of such intent to amend must have been given at the previous regular meeting. All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing.

It will take two-thirds (2/3) majority of these voting to amend the By-Laws.

Article XI - Ordinance

Section I. These By-Laws or their amendments shall conform to the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights Ordinance as passed by the Waterloo City Council. Revised 2/98