Greenfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 136 § 136-6

[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125 ; 10-16-2019 by Order No. FY 20-047 ] The powers and duties of the Commission shall include the following: A. To obtain information and documents, request staff support and other help as necessary from other City departments, including the School Department. B. To publish reports and other documents. C. To initiate investigations into the existence of unlawful discrimination in the City which may deny or tend to deny equal access or opportunity in matters of housing, employment, education, or public accommodations on the basis of: age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin, race, religious creed, sex or sexual orientation, and in connection therewith to hold administrative hearings. D. To attempt by negotiation to resolve all complaints that come before it and recommend to all appropriate governmental agencies, federal, state or local, such action as will resolve such complaint. E. To refer complaints, when appropriate, to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, or other agency, for resolution. F. To raise funds, subject to the Commission's internal rules of conduct and conflict of interest, for the use of the Commission and to accept money, gifts and services for its exclusive use and expend or use the same. G. To publish as a public document its bylaws, policies, and practices for both internal functions and external activities, excluding those documents which are confidential under federal or state law. H. To publish its rules of procedure for the conduct of its investigations, hearings, and negotiations. Said rules shall ensure the due process rights of all persons and/or entities involved in an investigation. At any hearing before the Commission, or any committee thereof, a witness shall have the right to be advised and represented by counsel. I. To render to the Mayor a full written report of its activities and its recommendations, not less than once a year. J. To expend, with approval of the Mayor, such funds as are appropriated for the aforementioned purposes. The Commission shall annually prepare an operating budget in a timely manner.