Coles County residents may get a chance to have their voices heard in conflicts with landlords or employers when it comes to discrimination.

Jamie Christianson, a Charleston resident, has proposed the creation of a Human Relations Commission to hear complaints from local residents.

The Human Relations Commission is comprised of seven members of the community, who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The Human Relations Department’s staff also has a director and secretary.

The commission is made up of people with a diverse background, preferably with legal, accounting and counseling experience, according to Christianson.

According to the City of Danville’s Web site, “The purpose of the Commission is to advise the Department on community related issues; promote and conduct programs that foster human relations among all citizens regardless of race, religion, ethnicity and economic background; and to encourage a community free of discrimination.”

The commission hears and decides upon cases of unlawful discrimination and complaints towards employees in the area.

Sandra Houston, director of the Danville’s Human Relations Department, said the commission serves as an advising committee to the department.

As director she enforces the ordinance, conducts investigations, makes judgments on the violations, and files a complaint with the commission if there is reasonable cause.

When a case comes up, Houston first tries to resolve the issue with those involved. If it cannot be resolved then the matter is taken to the commission.

The commission can hear the case or have an officer listen to it and write a recommendation of what to do. The commission can then take the recommendation, disagree with it or accept parts.

If it is decided that discrimination of any kind took place, a hearing for damages will follow where the commission will decide what to do.

“The best part is that you have the enforcement but you don’t you use it unless you have to,” Houston said. “You really just want to get things resolved.”

The People’s Ordinance Committee will meet at 6 p.m. tonight in the Coles County Center for Human Services to give more information about the commission and the goals of the committee.

Jamie Christianson made a request of the Charleston City Council on May 20 to support a Human Rights Commission in Coles County.

arleston’s City Council, said she plans on attending the meeting and hopes others do too, to learn more about what is being requested.

Christianson would like to have a statewide commission but feels with two universities it is necessary to have a local commission first.

About 35 percent of Coles County residents are renters. With no tenant union, renters have no place other than the police to file grievances with, said Christianson.

Christianson would like to see a commission in Coles County by the end of 2008, but for now feels the most important part is to spread the word about what the commission can do to help citizens.

Ashlei Maltman can be reached at 581-7942 or at anmaltman@eiu.edu.