Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-47

(a) Whenever the commission receives a complaint that is or appears to be within the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (hereinafter "MCAD"), the commission shall:

(1)

Prepare an MCAD complaint in the form and manner prescribed by MCAD and have such complaint signed under oath by the complainant;

(2) Transmit such complaint to MCAD for filing within three days of its preparation by the commission.

(b) Whenever the commission receives a complaint that is not within the jurisdiction of MCAD, the commission shall:

(1)

Prepare a complaint in the form and manner prescribed by the commission;

(2) Investigate such complaint. In connection with any investigation, the commission may hold hearings, summon witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under oath, and require the protection of any evidence relating to any matter in question or under investigation by the commission. The power to summon witnesses as defined herein shall be limited to those powers and procedures set forth in Chapter 233, Section 8 of the General Laws . At any hearing before the commission, or any committee thereof, a witness shall have the right to be advised and represented by counsel. However, unavailability of counsel is not an adequate basis for requiring a delay of any hearing or proceeding;

(3) Attempt by mediation to resolve such complaint and recommend to all appropriate governmental agencies, federal, state or local, such action as it feels will resolve such complaint;

(4) After completion of the investigation of any such complaint not resolved by mediation, make a written report of its findings and recommendations to the mayor and the city council , and to any court or other governmental agency having jurisdiction of the matter in question and, in all cases, urge and use its best efforts to bring about compliance with its recommendations.

(c) In addition to the aforementioned complaint-processing responsibilities, the commission shall have the following additional functions, powers and duties:

(1)

To make studies and surveys and to issue such publications and such results of investigations and research as, in its judgment, will tend to promote goodwill and minimize or eliminate discrimination in housing because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, handicap , children, marital status, family or relationship structure , sexual preference, source of income, military status, age, ancestry and/or national origin;

(2) To develop courses of instruction for presentation in public and private schools, public libraries, and other suitable places, devoted to eliminating prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination in housing and showing the need for mutual self-respect and the achievement of harmonious relations among various groups in the city ;

(3) To render each year to the mayor and city council a full written report of all its activities and of its recommendations;

(4) To create such subcommittees from the members of the commission as, in the commission's judgment, will best aid in effectuating the policy of this article;

(5) To enter into cooperative working agreements with federal, state and city agencies, and to enlist the cooperation of the various racial, religious and ethnic groups, civic and community organizations and other groups in the city to effectuate the policy of this article.

(Code 1963, § 17-; Ord. No. 2023-12 , 5-25-2023 )