CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Charlotte City Code ch. 12, art. II

in effect

Charlotte City Code § 12-26 Creation.

Sec. 12-26. - Creation. (a) There is hereby created the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee (referred to as "the committee") to consist of 45 members. The mayor shall appoint eight members of the committee, the city council shall appoint 16 members of the committee, and the county board of commissioners shall appoint 21 members of the committee. The mayor and the chairman of the board of commissioners shall designate one member as chairperson of the committee and one member as vice-chairperson. (b) The term of office for each member of the committee shall be three years, except that a member whose term has expired may remain a member until his successor is appointed. A member chosen to fill a vacancy created by any cause other than the expiration of a term shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member whom he is to succeed. A member of the committee is eligible for reappointment; provided, however, no person shall serve in succession more than two full terms as a member. (c) Twenty-three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting all business of the committee, except as provided otherwise by law. Vacancies on the committee shall not impair the ability of the remaining members to exercise the powers of the committee, provided that the quorum requirement is met. (d) A member of the committee may be removed by the mayor and chairman of the board of county commissioners for inefficiency, neglect of duty, misconduct or malfeasance in office, after being given a written statement of the charges and an opportunity to be heard thereon. (e) Attendance of meetings and continued service on the committee by members appointed by the mayor shall be governed by the attendance policies established by the city council. Vacancies resulting from a member's failure to attend the required number of meetings shall be filled as provided for in subsection (b) of this section. (f) The committee may appoint persons or organizations to assist it for such terms and purposes as the committee may determine and may take all other actions necessary to carry out the powers and responsibilities granted and imposed by this article. (Code 1985, § 12-16)

Charlotte City Code § 12-27 Powers.

Sec. 12-27. - Powers. Within the limitations provided by law, the community relations committee created under this article has the power to: (1) Maintain an office in the county; (2) Appoint an executive director and other necessary employees; (3) Cooperate or contract with individuals and state, local and other agencies, both private and public, including agencies of the federal government and of other states; (4) Accept public grants or private gifts, bequests, or other payments; (5) Study problems in the areas of human and community relations and make the results thereof available to the public; (6) Promote equality of opportunity for all citizens; (7) Promote understanding, respect and goodwill among all citizens; (8) Provide channels of communication among the various racial, religious and ethnic groups in the county; and (9) Render at least annually a written report to the mayor and to the city council and to the chairman and the board of county commissioners. The report may contain recommendations of the committee for legislation or other actions to eliminate or reduce discrimination with respect to protected class(es). (Code 1985, § 12-17; Ord. No. 7056-X, § 2, 2-22-2016, eff. 4-1-2016; Ord. No. 8195, § 2, 12-21-2016; Ord. No. 115, § 2, 8-9-2021)

Charlotte City Code § 12-28 Conciliation division created.

Sec. 12-28. - Conciliation division created. (a) Seven members of the community relations committee created by this article shall be appointed by the mayor to serve as the conciliation division of the committee. One of the committee members shall be designated by the mayor as chairperson of the conciliation division and another as vice-chairperson. (b) The term of office of each member of the conciliation division is coterminous with his term as a member of the committee. A member of the conciliation division is eligible for reappointment. (c) Three members of the conciliation division constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the conciliation division does not impair the authority of the remaining members to exercise the powers of the conciliation division. (Code 1985, § 12-18)

Charlotte City Code § 12-29 Powers of conciliation division.

Sec. 12-29. - Powers of conciliation division. Within the limitations provided by law, the conciliation division of the community relations committee created by this article has the power to: (1) Use the facilities and staff of the committee created under this article, as authorized by the committee, to effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter; (2) Receive, initiate, seek to conciliate, and hold hearings on complaints alleging violations of this chapter; (3) Provide information on alternate avenues and technical support for relief on complaints alleging violations of this chapter, including those provided under applicable federal and state law; (4) Approve or disapprove plans to eliminate or reduce discrimination with respect to a protected class; (5) Furnish technical assistance required by persons subject to this chapter to further compliance with this chapter; (6) Render at least annually a comprehensive written report to the committee created by this article and to the mayor and the city council. (Code 1985, § 12-19; Ord. No. 7056-X, § 2, 2-22-2016, eff. 4-1-2016; Ord. No. 8195, § 2, 12-21-2016; Ord. No. 115, § 2, 8-9-2021)

Charlotte City Code § 12-30 Complaint procedure.

Sec. 12-30. - Complaint procedure. (a) Any person claiming a violation of article III or IV of this chapter may file with the conciliation division a sworn complaint stating that a violation has been committed, setting forth the facts upon which the complaint is based, and setting forth facts sufficient to enable the conciliation division to identify the person charged (referred to as "the respondent"). The conciliation division or a member of the conciliation division or the staff shall properly review the allegations of discriminatory practice set forth in the complaint and shall, within ten days, furnish the respondent with a copy of the complaint. The complaint must be filed within one year after the alleged violation occurs. The conciliation division or a member of the conciliation division or the staff shall initiate a review of the complaint within a reasonable time. (b) Not later than 30 days after the complaint is filed, unless for good reason the time is extended for an additional 30 days by the conciliation division, the conciliation division shall determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent has violated article III or IV of this chapter. (c) If the conciliation division finds that there is no reasonable cause to believe the respondent has violated article III or IV of this chapter, the chairperson shall, within a reasonable time, inform the complaining party, the city attorney, and the respondent of the conciliation division's findings. (d) If the conciliation division finds that there is reasonable cause to believe the respondent has violated article III or IV of this chapter, the conciliation division may endeavor, by conference and conciliation with the respondent, to reach a voluntary elimination of the alleged, unlawful practice. The conciliation division, or any of its employees, shall not make public, without the written consent of the complaining party and the respondent, information concerning efforts in a particular case to voluntarily eliminate an alleged and unlawful practice by conference and conciliation. (e) If there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent has violated article III or IV of this chapter and the alleged violation has not been voluntarily eliminated by conference and conciliation within a period of 90 days from the filing of the complaint, the complaint shall be referred to the city attorney for appropriate action after the complainant and respondent shall be so notified. (Code 1985, § 12-20; Ord. No. 115, § 2, 8-9-2021)

Charlotte City Code § 12-31 Other civil remedies.

Sec. 12-31. - Other civil remedies. An election to proceed by making a complaint with the conciliation division by a person alleging a violation of article III or IV of this chapter shall not foreclose the right to proceed with any civil remedies available. Violation of articles III or IV of this chapter shall not be punishable as a crime under G.S. 14-4 or any other law. Nothing in articles III or IV of this chapter shall be interpreted or applied so as to create any unique requirement, power, or duty or liability in conflict with any existing federal or state law or either the federal or state constitutions. Other than an assertion that a respondent employer is not a covered employer due to the size of its employee workforce, any and all legal rights, remedies and defenses to a charge of discrimination recognized under applicable federal and state law shall also be applicable to a charge of discrimination under this chapter. Nothing in the requirements of articles III and IV of this chapter shall deny the use of constitutionally or otherwise legally protected speech nor shall the requirements of articles III and IV of this chapter deny any entity or individual their constitutional or statutory protections against compelled speech or expression. (Code 1985, § 12-21; Ord. No. 115, § 2, 8-9-2021)

Charlotte City Code § 12-32 No private cause of action.

Sec. 12-32. - No private cause of action. Violations of articles III or IV of this chapter is not intended to create, and does not create, any individual right, privilege, or benefit, whether substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the City of Charlotte, its agencies, departments or any other entities, or any officers, elected officials, employees, or agents thereof, or against the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee (as that term is defined in this chapter) or any other person, employer or respondent. (Ord. No. 115, § 2, 8-9-2021)

Source: City of Charlotte, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/charlotte/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH12HURE_ARTIICHCKCORECOFetched: 10/27/2026