(A) Any person (employee or citizen) who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination as prohibited by § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and pursuant to regulations at 24 C.F.R. part 8 published in the Federal Register on June 2, 1988, may personally or by a representative, file a complaint with the Mayor. A person who has not personally been subjected to discrimination may also file a complaint.
(B) When any person (employee, citizen or applicant) believes that he or she has been adversely affected by an act or decision by the city, and that the act or decision was based on disability status, he or she will have the right to process a complaint or grievance in accordance with the following procedure.
(1) An aggrieved person must submit a written statement to the Mayor setting forth the nature of the discrimination alleged and facts upon which the allegation is based.
(2) (a) The Mayor shall contact the complainant no later than 15 days after receiving the written statement to establish an informal meeting with the objective of resolving the matter informally. However, in no case shall the informal meeting be conducted sooner than five days nor more than 45 days after receiving the written statement.
(b) There shall be prepared a written documentary of the discussions at the informal meeting, which shall be preserved in the records of the city.
(3) Within 15 days of the informal meeting, if no decision has been made by the Mayor, or the decision of the Mayor does not satisfy the complainant, he or she may request a hearing with the City Council by submitting a written request to the Mayor.
(4) In thus discussing the grievance, the complainant may designate any person of his or her choice to appear with him or her and participate in the discussion. The City Council shall require the Mayor to participate in the discussion of the grievance, when it is brought before the City Council. The City Council shall issue a written decision on the matter within 15 days, and the decision shall be the final procedure for the complainant at the local level.
(C) There shall be prepared a written documentary of the discussion at the hearing, which shall be preserved in the records of the city.
(Ord. 11-84, passed 8-20-1984; Ord. 1-95, passed 3-6-1995)