(A) Any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice or who believes that he or she will by irrevocably injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur (hereafter “person aggrieved”) may file a complaint with the Mayor or his or her designated city employee. Complaints shall be in writing and shall contain such information and be in such form, as the Mayor requires. Upon receipt of such a complaint, the Mayor shall furnish a copy of the same both to the Kentucky Civil Rights Commission and to the person or persons who allegedly committed or was about to commit the alleged discriminatory housing practice. The Mayor will request assistance from the Kentucky Civil Rights Commission in resolving this complaint either through informal endeavors or through procedures, conciliation, agreement and/or enforcement per KRS 344.200 through 344.290. The Mayor shall act as a facilitator and will assist (when requested and/or where appropriate) the Kentucky Civil Rights Commission in resolving the complaint. Nothing said or done in the course of informal endeavors may be made public or used as evidence in a subsequent proceeding under this chapter without the written consent of the persons concerned. Any employee of the Mayor who shall make public any information in violation of this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year.
(B) A complaint under division (A) above shall be filed with the State Human Rights Commission within 180 days after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred. Complaints shall be in writing and shall state the facts upon which the allegations of a discriminatory housing practice occurred. Complaints shall be in writing and shall state the facts upon which the allegations of a discriminatory housing practice are based. Complaints may be reasonably and fairly amended at any time. A respondent may file an answer to the complaint against him or her and with the leave of the State Human Rights Commission, which shall be granted whenever it would be reasonable and fair to do so, may amend his or her answer at any time. Both complaints and answers shall be verified.
(C) If within 30 days after a complaint is filed with the State Human Rights Commission, the State Human Rights Commission has been unable to obtain voluntary compliance with this chapter, the person aggrieved may, within 30 days thereafter, file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The State Human Rights Commission will assist in this filing.
(Ord. 7, passed 4-9-2001)