Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 14.04 § 14.04.020

This Chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Cambridge Human Rights Commission established by Chapter 2.76 of this Code.
The Commission shall work with the City Manager to provide for fair housing practices within the City of Cambridge.
This Chapter is intended to incorporate the substantive provisions and protections of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended (42 USC Sections 3601 et seq., the Fair Housing Act, and Chapter 151B of the General Laws, and is to be interpreted in a manner which is not inconsistent therewith. A.
The Commission, to carry out the policies of this Chapter, shall exercise the following powers and duties:
1. Receive, process and investigate complaints and initiate its own investigations of violations of this Chapter, in accordance with Section 14.04.050 ;
2. Transmit for filing with other government agencies copies of any complaint filed with the Commission, or of which the Commission is otherwise aware, that relate to acts of discrimination under the jurisdiction of such agencies;
3. Engage in conciliation to resolve any complaint over which it has jurisdiction, and draft, approve, and monitor any conciliation agreement agreed to by the parties in the dispute;
4. Hold hearings; summon witnesses and compel their attendance; administer oaths; take the testimony of any person under oath, and order the production of any relevant evidence, so as to permit reasonable discovery, in the same manner and to the same extent as exercised by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination;
5. Seek or apply remedies as enumerated in Section 14.04.060 and urge and use its best efforts to effect compliance with its recommendations and findings;
6. Seek or accept grants, gifts, or bequests to help finance its activities.
B. Every power and duty enjoyed by the Commission as enumerated in Chapter 2.76 of this Code for protecting and advancing the human rights of the people of Cambridge shall be retained and exercised to enable the Commission to promulgate rules and procedures consistent with this Chapter and the laws of the Commonwealth, in order to effectuate the goals, policies and provisions of this Chapter.
C. The provisions of this Chapter shall be liberally construed in order to accomplish the goals of fair housing in Cambridge.