(a) Any person aggrieved in any manner of any violation of any provision or this chapter may file with the Human Relations Commission a written verified complaint setting forth his or her grievance.
(1) The complaint shall state the following:
A. The name and address of the complainant;
B. The name and address of the person against whom the complaint is brought, if known to the complainant;
C. The alleged facts surrounding the alleged violation of this chapter; and
D. The name and address of all persons believed to have knowledge concerning the alleged facts.
(2) The Commission shall provide a printed form of complaint for the use of aggrieved persons.
(b) (1) After the filing of any complaint, the Commission shall serve a copy of the complaint on the party or parties charged, and the Chairperson of the Commission shall designate a panel to make a prompt investigation in connection therewith. The panel shall be comprised of three or more members of the Commission, selected on an alternating basis by the Chairperson. The Chairperson may act as facilitator of the panel, in an ex officio, non-voting capacity only.
(2) In the event that more than one complaint is pending before the Commission, the complaints shall be processed in the most expedient manner in the order of priority as received by the Commission.
(c) (1) If such panel determines after such investigation that probable cause exists for the allegations or the complaint, the panel shall set a time and date for a meeting, and at such meeting the panel, or any member thereof, shall interview the complainant and the person or persons against whom the complaint has been directed and shall attempt to resolve the complaint by all proper methods of conciliation and persuasion.
(2) If, at any time within sixty days after the date of filing of the complaint, such panel determines that such attempts at conciliation would not be in furtherance of the objectives of this chapter, the Commission shall thereupon proceed promptly to a full hearing of the complaint in accordance with Section 270.12.
(d) No person may file a complaint with the Human Relations Commission pertaining to any matter filed in any other forum, including, but not limited to, legal proceedings.
(Ord. 2024-09. Passed 3-18–24.)