(a) Any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice or who believes that he will be irrevocably injured by a discriminatory housing practice may file a complaint through the agency selected to administer the program on behalf of and for the City. Complaints shall be in writing, under oath, and shall contain such information and be in such form as may be required. Upon receipt of such complaint, a copy shall be furnished to the person or persons who allegedly committed or was about to commit the allegedly discriminatory housing practice. Within thirty days of receiving a complaint, the agency shall investigate the complaint and give notice, in writing, to the person who filed the same whether the agency intends to resolve it. If the agency decides to resolve the complaint, it shall proceed to try to eliminate or correct the alleged discriminatory housing practice by informal methods of conference, conciliation, persuasion and hearings. Nothing said or done in the course of such informal endeavors may be made public or used as evidence in subsequent proceedings without the written consent of all persons concerned. Complaints shall be filed within sixty days after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred. Complaints shall be in writing and shall state the facts upon which the allegations are based. Complaints may be reasonably and fairly amended at any time. A respondent may file an answer and amend the same, reasonably and fairly at any time. Answers shall be under oath.
If such complaints are filed against the agency, they shall be investigated and resolved by the Law Director based upon the same proper procedures.
(b) If upon preliminary investigation within thirty days after the complaint is filed, it is determined that there are not probable grounds for the allegations of the petition, it shall be so stated, the complainant shall be so advised, and the complaint dismissed. If the agency determines to resolve the complaint, its endeavors shall be completed within ninety days after the date on which the complaint was first filed.
Upon informal hearings and investigations, complaints may be dismissed at any time. Upon dismissal of a complaint or upon failure of the agency to obtain voluntary compliance with the provisions of this chapter from the person against whom the complaint has been filed, the person filing the complaint may pursue the remedies provided in other applicable sections of the Ohio Revised Code, if applicable, or that provided by applicable provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations, including Sections 810 and 812 of Title VIII of Public Law 90-284. Whenever possible, the agency shall assist the complainant in pursuing such remedies.
(Ord. 20-85. Passed 9-10-85.)