(A) Any person aggrieved in any manner by an alleged violation of any provision of this chapter may file with the Commission a written verified charge setting forth that grievance. The City Clerk is hereby authorized to accept such charges and forward them to the Commission. The charge shall state the name and address of the complainant; the name and address of the person against whom the charge is brought, if known to the complainant; and the alleged facts surrounding the alleged violation; and such charge shall state the name and address of all persons believed to have knowledge concerning the alleged facts. The Commission shall provide a printed form of charge for the use of aggrieved persons.
(B) The charge shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $25 which shall be deposited with the City Clerk. If, in accordance with the procedures hereinafter set forth, the Commission or a panel thereof shall determine that probable cause does exist for the allegations of the charge, or if the alleged violation or charge is disposed of by conference, conciliation or persuasion, or if any of the charges alleged in the charge are sustained, the City Treasurer, upon recommendation of the Commission, shall return the filing fee to the complainant. If it is determined that probable cause does not exist for the allegations of the charge, or the charges alleged in the charge are not sustained, the filing fee shall be retained by the city.
(C) After filing of any charge, the Commission shall, within 30 days thereafter, acknowledge to the complainant that the charge has been received, serve a copy of the charge on the party or parties charged, and the Chairman of the Commission shall designate a panel to make a prompt investigation in connection therewith.
(D) (1) Within 100 days after receipt of the complaint, the panel shall prepare a written report of its investigation for the Commission and shall determine in writing either that "probable cause exists for the allegations of the charge" or that "probable cause does not exist for the allegations of the charge." If it is impracticable to complete the investigation within 100 days, the complainant and the charged party shall be notified, in writing, of the reasons for not doing so. If the panel shall determine that probable cause does exist, 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 charge has been directed and shall attempt to resolve the charge by all proper methods of conciliation and persuasion.
(2) The relief provided for in §§ 101.35(B) and 101.37 may be sought during conciliation. The conciliation agreement may provide for binding arbitration of the dispute arising from the charge. Arbitration may award appropriate relief as provided for in this chapter. The aggrieved person and the respondent may, in the conciliation agreement, limit the types of relief that may be awarded under binding arbitration. All conciliation agreements must be approved by the City Council only after the city determines that the aggrieved person(s) and those charged agree to the relief provided for in the conciliation agreement and the provisions of the conciliation agreement adequately vindicates the public interest.
(3) If at any time within 60 days after the date of filing of the charge the panel shall determine 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 charge in accordance with § 101.34.
(Ord. O-46-93, passed 11-16-93)