Delaware County could have a Human Relations Commission that would hear alleged human rights violations county-wide in areas of housing, employment, medical care, and education.
The 12-member volunteer commission would have the authority to evaluate complaints, mediate disputes, schedule public hearings, and levy fines of up to $500 for violators, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.
Creating the commission had its first reading at the August meeting of Delaware County Council.
It would handle cases involving more than two dozen protected classes, including race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin or citizen status, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, as well as many others.
“This isn’t coming out of thin air,” said Delaware County Council Member Elaine Paul Schaefer. “This is coming in front of us because we have residents who feel under siege and who have come to us and asked for help. And our job is to protect our residents from discrimination when it is happening.”
The commission would create the means to enforce an anti-discrimination ordinance, since police do not arrest people for discrimination violations.
Read about the proposal and reaction to a Delaware County Human Rights Commission in the Daily Times
