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Home My WebLink AboutAuthorizing City of South Bend to enter into a Joint Commission to be known as the Disability Rights CommissionRESOLUTION NO. 2617 -98 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend. Indiana, May 11, 98 19 Attest: Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend. Indi May 12, l9 98 Clerk of Common Council. City Clerk Approved and signed by me May 13 19 -9.8. Mayor RESOLUTION NO. C L' / — / 9 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND TO ENTER INTO, ALONG WITH ST. JOSEPH COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MISHAWAKA, A JOINT COMMISSIC TO BE KNOWN AS THE DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION WHEREAS, the City of South Bend is interested in promoting the full integration of persons with disabilities into all areas of economic, political and community life; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend desires to promote equal opportunity in employment and access to public accommodations, to eliminate discriminatory practices in employment and public accommodations on the basis of disability, and to support the federal policies of equal opportunity in education and housing; and WHEREAS, there exist barriers to full integration and to the elimination of discriminatory practices; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend recognizes that such barriers and discriminatory practices work to deprive the community of participation by significant segments of its population, thereby depriving the community of the talents, skills and knowledge of that segment; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend is committed to utilizing all appropriate resources at its disposal, and to coordinating efforts with persons with disabilities toward the goal of removing barriers to full integration and the elimination of discriminatory practices; and WHEREAS, St. Joseph County and the City of Mishawaka have the same concerns and similar problems, and it would be best to utilize a united effort to reach these goals through a joint commission to be known as the Disability Rights Commission. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana: SECTION I. The City is authorized to participate in a Disability Rights Commission with all powers and duties as set forth in the document attached to this Resolution. SECTION II. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and its approval by the Mayor. PASSED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, this 116L day of `� , 1998. PRESENTED S- I i- J b NOT APPROVO Q ADOPTED r I I .I D Ltn4� Member of the Common Council Filed in Clerk's Office MAY 0 6 1998 1 ORETTAJ. DUDA CITY CLERK, 30. BEND, IN. DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION u... •� :.. _ul_.�.. (a) St. Joseph County and the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka have agreed to establish a Disability Rights Commission for the following purposes: (1) To promote the full integration of persons with disabilities into all areas of economic, political and community life; (2) To promote equal opportunity in employment and access to public accommodations, to eliminate discriminatory practices in employment and public accommodations on the basis of disability, and to support the federal policies of equal opportunity in education and housing; (3) To eliminate barriers to full integration and discriminatory practices against persons with disabilities, and to encourage participation by such persons so that the community is not deprived of their talents, skills and knowledge; and (4) To utilizing all appropriate resources at its disposal, and to coordinating efforts with persons with disabilities toward the goal of removing barriers to full integration and the elimination of discriminatory practices; and (b) This Commission shall address the needs and concerns of a wide variety of disabled persons, including but not limited to, those with physical, mental and sensory disabilities. It also shall address the needs and concerns of parents and /or guardians of disabled children. 0010 F907V 1u F&SWE E 0 OLD 10 r _ 5-511 a 1W (a) The Commission shall consist of thirteen members who are residents of St. Joseph County, at least (18) years of age, and who are representative of all disability groups within the community. (b) The thirteen members shall be appointed as follows: (1) The Mayors of the Cities of Mishawaka and South Bend shall appoint three (3) residents, to serve as members of the Commission. At least one (1) of the appointees shall have a disability. One appointee may be an individual with a disabled family member or be employed by a handicapped services provider. One appointee shall be from their respective government unit. The Mayors may also appoint two (2) additional private citizens as representatives. (2) The Chairman of the St. Joseph County Commissioners shall follow the same appointments as previously listed for Mishawaka and South Bend. (3) Membership may be increased in size by the Commission to allow representation by other incorporated towns within St. Joseph County. (c) Consideration shall be given in the selection of any member who has a professional or personal background in the area of civil rights, protective services, or other services for the disabled. (d) Members appointed by the Mayors of Mishawaka, South Bend, or by the Chairman of the St. Joseph County Commissioners may serve for a term of four (4) years. (e) Members appointed as representatives of their respective government units or the South Bend Human rights Commission may serve for a term of two (2) years. (f) Any member of the Commission shall have the right to resign his /her membership at any time by submitting a written letter of resignation to the Chairman of the Commission and to his /her appointing authority. It shall be the duty of the appointing authority or the Commission to appoint a replacement. (g) The Chairman or Co- Chairman may recommend the termination of membership of any member absent from two (2) consecutive meetings. The Chairperson of the Commission shall not consider reasons of employment, illness or personal family matters. (h) Any vacancy in Commission membership shall be filled in the same manner as provided for in this section. 3. ORGANIZATION: (a) The Commission shall elect the board position of Chairman, Co- Chairman, and Secretary. Nominations for those positions shall be from any member of the Commission membership. Elected positions shall be voted upon by a quorum of the members of the Commission. (b) The Commission shall hold a minimum of eight (8) monthly meetings annually. The Commission shall have the right to hold any special meetings as deemed necessary. The meetings shall be open to the public. (c) The Commission shall adopt rules and bylaws deemed necessary for the proper conduct of the proceedings. (d) The Commission shall not vote on any subject or take any official action brought before the Commission without the presence of a quorum. A quorum shall consist of seven (7) members. (e) The Commission shall prepare and issue official minutes after each meeting or submit an annual report to the appoint authorities of the Cities of Mishawaka, South Bend, and St. Joseph County, as well as the South Bend Human Rights Commission. such minutes or annual report shall describe the accomplishments made or proposed towards the goals of the Commission. Such reports shall be maintained by the Commission for public inspection pursuant to the Public Records Act. ehP WH (a) To advise and confer with governmental entities on projects and activities which concern the Commission, members and persons with disabilities. (b) To study current patterns and conditions of persons with disabilities and identify such factors as may be beneficial or detrimental to their full integration and participation in all areas of economical, political and community life. (c) To develop, demonstrate and /or evaluate new approaches, techniques and methods which make substantial contributions toward the integration and participation of persons with disabilities in areas of economic, political and community life. (d) To develop and /or demonstrate new approaches, techniques and methods for achieving awareness and /or improving coordination of community and governmental services for persons with disabilities. (e) To prepare and submit plans, reports, applications, grants, policies and agreements in conjunction with the Cities of Mishawaka, South Bend and St. Joseph County. (f) To prepare and submit ordinances to the governmental authorities, which would benefit the rights, safety, protection and freedoms of persons with disabilities. (g) To work in cooperation with the various departments and agencies of the Cities of Mishawaka, South Bend and St. Joseph County in the Design and implementation of programs which would benefit and serve persons with disabilities. (h) To establish and maintain an office or offices which would serve the needs and concerns, and to coordinate public and private sector activities concerning persons with disabilities. CITY OF SOUTH BEND STEPHEN J. LUECKE, MAYOR OFFICE OF THE MAYOR May 4,1998 Mr. Sean Coleman South Bend Common Council 4th Floor, County -City Building South Bend, IN 46601 Filed in Clerk's Office MAY 0 6 1398 LORMA J. OUDA CMCLERK, RO. REitKt, tiA{ Re: A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, Authorizing the City of South Bend to Enter Into, Along With St. Joseph County and the City of Mishawaka, a Joint Commission to be Known as the Disability Rights Commission Dear President Coleman: Attached for filing is a resolution authorizing the City of South Bend to enter into, along with St. Joseph County and The City of Mishawaka, a Joint Commission to be known as the Disability Rights Commission. The purpose of this Joint Commission is to better utilize all appropriate resources available to eliminate discriminatory practices in employment and public accommodations and to make a united effort to reach these goals. MQj1 Your favorable consideration is respectfully requested. Sincerely, __1 PV Marcia Qualls, Member Disability Rights Commission COUNTY -CITY BUILDING • SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 PHONE 219/235 -9261 , FAX 219/235 -9892 • TDD 219/235 -5567