Montgomery County                                2315

sons regardless of their race, religious creed, ancestry or national origin
and to promote good will, cooperation, understanding, and human relations
among all persons of different races, colors, religious creeds, ancestries or
national origins. In performance of its duties, the Commission shall co-
operate with interested citizens, racial, religious and ethnic groups, com-
munity, business, professional, technical, educational and civic organiza-
tions.

(b)    To cooperate with the County Executive; and all governmental
agencies concerned with matters within their jurisdiction.

(c)    To study and investigate by means of public or private meetings,
conferences and public hearings conditions which may result in discrimi-
nation, prejudice, intolerance and bigotry because of race, color, religious
creed, ancestry or national origin.

(d)    To advise and counsel the residents of Montgomery County,
the County Council, the County Executive and the various departments of
County, State and Federal governments on matters involving racial, reli-
gious, or ethnic prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and bigotry and to
recommend such procedures, program or legislation as it may deem neces-
sary and proper to promote and insure equal rights and opportunities for
all persons, regardless of their race, color, religious creed, ancestry or
national origin.

(e)     To work to remove inequalities due to discrimination, prejudice,
intolerance and bigotry on such problems as housing, recreation, education,
health, employment, public accommodations, justice and related matters.

(f)    To initiate or receive complaints of discrimination, prejudice,
intolerance and bigotry from any person or group because of race, color,
religious creed, ancestry or national origin which deprives that person or
group of equal rights, protection or opportunities. To investigate com-
plaints, seek conciliation of such complaints, and if warranted, to hold
hearings and make recommendations on such complaints. Neither the
Commission as a whole, nor any of its members not serving on a panel,
shall engage in any of the functions or jurisdictions assigned to a Commis-
sion Panel or the Executive Secretary.

(g)    To adopt such rules and procedures as may be necessary to carry
out the purposes and provisions of this Chapter; to keep a record of its
hearings, activities, and minutes of all meetings, such records and minutes
shall be on file with the Executive Secretary of the Commission and open
to the public at reasonable business hours upon request.

(h) To render at the request of the Executive or within thirty (30)
days following each quarter of the calendar year preliminary written or
oral reports of its activities and recommendations to the County Executive
and the County Council and a final written yearly report summarizing its
activities, goals, needs, and recommendations.

(2) Despite the foregoing provisions of this law, the Commission
is authorized to proceed with other programs which will seek to relieve
group tension and/or adverse intergroup activities which may result from
causes not related to race, color, religious creed, ancestry or national origin
provided that such action is first submitted to the County Executive and
further provided that the County Executive does not disapprove such
action.