59A-1. Declaration of policy. [Amended 12-28-1999] back to top
It is the policy of the City of Norwalk:
A.To safeguard all individuals within the city from discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, lawful source of income, familial status or mental or physical disability, including but not limited to blindness, in connection with housing, thereby to protect their interest in personal dignity and freedom from humiliation, to make available to the city their full productive capacities, to secure the city against strife and unrest which would menace its democratic institutions and to preserve the public safety and general welfare; and
B.To supplement through official local action the implementation in Norwalk of Section 46a-64c of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut (prohibiting denials of full and equal accommodations in housing), the provisions whereof are incorporated herein by reference. References in this article to such sections of the General Statutes shall include such amendments thereof as may be made from time to time.
59A-2. Definitions. [Amended 12-28-1999] back to top
As used in this article, the f be served personally, by abode service or by certified mail as directed by the Commission.
M.At any time after a complaint has been filed, the Commission may file an action in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking appropriate temporary relief against the respondent.
N.At any time after a complaint has been filed, the Commission may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking such appropriate relief against any person as it may deem necessary to prevent any change or position between the complainant(s) and the respondent.
O.The Commission may file suit in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking enforcement of any of its orders issued pursuant to this article.
59A-7. Appeal. [Amended 8-13-2002] back to top
Pursuant to 7-1481 of the Connecticut General Statutes, any respondent or complainant aggrieved by a final order of the Commission, or any complainant aggrieved by the dismissal of his/her complaint by the Commission, may appeal to the State Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Any such appeal shall be filed within 30 days of the mailing of the written decision.
59A-8. Violations and penalties. back to top
A.If the Commission finds that any person has committed an unlawful practice as defined in this article, it may subject such person to a fine not exceeding $100 per offense, and each day of violation of this article shall be deemed a separate offense. The Commission may, if such person refuses to pay the fine, file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection thereof.
B.If a real estate broker, a real estate salesman or an employee thereof has failed to comply with any order issued by the Commission or has been found to have committed an unlawful practice in violation of this article, the Commission may so notify in writing the Real Estate Commission of the State of Connecticut.
C.Should the Commission determine at any time that a complaint filed with it alleging a violation of this article was filed in bad faith, the Commission shall forthwith issue an order requiring the complainant(s) to pay to the respondent the amount of the reasonable expenses caused the respondent by the filing of said complaint, including reasonable attorney' s fees, and such order may be enforced in the same manner as any other order issued by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this article.
59A-9. Severability. back to top
If any provisions of this article or the application thereof to any eventuality or circumstance should be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or applications of this article, which shall be and continue in effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this article are severable.
59A-10. When effective. back to top
This article shall take effect in accordance with the Code of the City of Norwalk, 1-193.