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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

1964-08-06 Mayor's Commission On Civic Unity Page 1

MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON CIVIC UNITY
Burlington, Iowa
August 6th, 1964

MEMORANDUM
Regarding: Ordinance on Human Rights and Unlawful Employment Practices

     The Mayor's Commission on Civic Unity has drawn a proposed Ordinance to be presented to the City council for consideration and action. The Ordinance in its present form is the result of many months of research, conferences and revision. It is based on Fair Employment Practices Ordinances now in effect in Sioux City and Des Moines. These, in turn, are patterned after ordinances in other states with many successful years of operation.

     The Ordinance has two main objectives. The first is to establish a permanent body to operate in the area of civil rights. Essentially, it is a continuation of the present Commission but on a statutory, more permanent basis. The duties are described in the statute. As in the past, its primary functions are anticipated to be information-gathering and a forum for airing grievances. Yet its authority is broad enough to allow it to pursue other undertakings as circumstances may require. The present Commission has been in continuous existance for 12 years.

     It is submitted that the existence of such a statutory body is highly desirable, especially as law enforcement becomes involved. First, it can absorb much of the load of investigation from the city attorney. Second, the expense of investigation and preliminary proceedings can be shifted from an aggrieved individual to the community, thus rendering justice more readily accessible to all. In addition, the Commission should furnish the community with a group of experienced citizens who are expert in discerning bias.

     Furthermore, the commission is in a position to employ mediation and conciliation, educational campaigns and other flexible remedies where they can be effective. It should here be noted that the present Commission has done extensive educational work in the City of Burlington through the use of programs and speakers before many civic organizations, movies, hundreds of conferences, and as co-sponsor of large community-wide human rights meetings, the most recent being the Know Your Neighbor panel in February, 1963.

     It should also be noted that in the history of other Fair Employment Practices Acts, both state and municipal, that mediation and conciliation are by far the most important functions, over 95% of grievances being settled by these methods. Thus reasonable and acceptable solutions have been found without recourse to the courts removing, in this way, the cause of festering social disturbance.

    The second major objective of the proposed Ordinance is the abolishment of discriminatory employment practices. While this Ordinance is more detailed than our state statute, they are not inconsistent and it is believed that this Ordinance is more realistic and workable. The essential purpose of a municipal ordinance is to provide an additional forum -- a forum is close to the community and can be reached by an aggrieved individual at minimum expense. In effect, this would mean that an individual will have the benefit of our city attorney and Municipal Court as well as State and Federal remedies which might be unavailable for various reasons, not the least of which is financial.

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MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON CIVIC UNITY Burlington, Iowa August 6th, 1964 MEMORANDUM Regarding: Ordinance on Human Rights and Unlawful Employment Practices The Mayor's Commission on Civic Unity has drawn a proposed Ordinance to be presented to the City council for consideration and action. The Ordinance in its present form is the result of many months of research, conferences and revision. It is based on Fair Employment Practices Ordinances now in effect in Sioux City and Des Moines. These, in turn, are patterned after ordinances in other states with many successful years of operation. The Ordinance has two main objectives. The first is to establish a permanent body to operate in the area of civil rights. Essentially, it is a continuation of the present Commission but on a statutory, more permanent basis. The duties are described in the statute. As in the past, its primary functions are anticipated to be information-gathering and a forum for airing grievances. Yet its authority is broad enough to allow it to pursue other undertakings as circumstances may require. The present Commission has been in continuous existance for 12 years. It is submitted that the existence of such a statutory body is highly desirable, especially as law enforcement becomes involved. First, it can absorb much of the load of investigation from the city attorney. Second, the expense of investigation and preliminary proceedings can be shifted from an aggrieved individual to the community, thus rendering justice more readily accessible to all. In addition, the Commission should furnish the community with a group of experienced citizens who are expert in discerning bias. Furthermore, the commission is in a position to employ mediation and conciliation, educational campaigns and other flexible remedies where they can be effective. It should here be noted that the present Commission has done extensive educational work in the City of Burlington through the use of programs and speakers before many civic organizations, movies, hundreds of conferences, and as co-sponsor of large community-wide human rights meetings, the most recent being the Know Your Neighbor panel in February, 1963. It should also be noted that in the history of other Fair Employment Practices Acts, both state and municipal, that mediation and conciliation are by far the most important functions, over 95% of grievances being settled by these methods. Thus reasonable and acceptable solutions have been found without recourse to the courts removing, in this way, the cause of festering social disturbance. The second major objective of the proposed Ordinance is the abolishment of discriminatory employment practices. While this Ordinance is more detailed than our state statute, they are not inconsistent and it is believed that this Ordinance is more realistic and workable. The essential purpose of a municipal ordinance is to provide an additional forum -- a forum is close to the community and can be reached by an aggrieved individual at minimum expense. In effect, this would mean that an individual will have the benefit of our city attorney and Municipal Court as well as State and Federal remedies which might be unavailable for various reasons, not the least of which is financial.