(A) Grievance procedures generally.
(1) The attached procedures shall be the grievance procedures for anyone who believes he or she has been discriminated against by the County Fiscal Court based on handicapped status with respect to federally-funded programs.
(2) The administration of these procedures and related federal and state regulations shall be the responsibility of the executive authority of the County Fiscal Court.
(3) These procedures may be amended by ordinance to comply with court directives or additional federal and state regulations.
(B) Steps of the grievance procedure. The following steps address the grievance procedure.
(1) Step one. Any person with a grievance concerning access to services, programs, and facilities that the county provides shall present the grievance, in writing, to the County Judge/Executive. The Judge/Executive shall attempt to correct the matter immediately, if possible, or provide a written response within five days as to what action will be taken and the deadline for such action.
(2) Step two.
(a) If the complainant is not satisfied with the response of the Judge/Executive or if no action is taken, the written grievance shall be submitted to the Judge/Executive.
(b) The Judge/Executive shall meet with the complainant and/or his or her representative to discuss the problem informally. Documentation of the meeting shall be prepared and maintained in the county’s files.
(c) The Judge/Executive shall provide a written response within 15 days of the informal meeting as to action to be taken and the deadline for completion.
(3) Step three.
(a) If the Judge/Executive’s response is not satisfactory or if no action is taken, the complainant may take the grievance to the Fiscal Court. A hearing may be requested by submitting the written request to the Judge/Executive. The grievance shall be brought before the Fiscal Court no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting. A special-called meeting of the Fiscal Court may be made, if necessary, to discuss the grievance.
(b) In discussing the grievance, the complainant may designate any person of his or her choice to appear with him or her for him or her to participate in the discussion. Written documentation of the discussion shall be maintained in the county’s records.
(c) The Fiscal Court shall issue a written decision on the matter within 15 days. This decision shall be the final procedure for the complainant at the local administrative level.
(Ord. 69, passed 10-3-1984; Ord. 215, passed 2-1-1995)