[CC 1976 §18-64; Ord. No. 91-45 §§1 — 3, 9-9-1991]
A. 
The City of Overland does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to employment or municipal programs or activities.
B. 
The following grievance procedure is established for those person(s) wishing to file complaints of alleged violations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by the City.
1. 
Complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged discrimination. In any case where the alleged violation of the act may constitute a violation of any other provision of law, applicable regulation or agreement, nothing in this Section shall preclude an individual or organization from filing a complaint or grievance based upon such law, regulation, or agreement as well as a complaint or grievance under Section 504. Assistance in filing complaints may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk.
2. 
Persons alleging violations of Section 504 may file a written complaint or grievance, if informal attempts to request relief are not effective. Complaints or grievances will be investigated and a written determination will be forwarded to the grievant within five (5) working days of filing. This notification will include notice to the grievant of his/her right to request an impartial hearing with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the Municipal Attorney and an explanation of the hearing procedure. This notice will be mailed by "Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested". Further efforts at informal resolution may be made by the grievant and/or the City.
3. 
If the written determination is not satisfactory to the grievant, grievant may request an impartial hearing by writing to the chairperson of the HRC within four (4) working days of receipt of the written determination. The parties to the grievance shall be notified by the City of the hearing date at least five (5) working days before the hearing. The hearing will be conducted by the Municipal Attorney within thirty (30) working days after the complaint is filed. The chairperson of the HRC may designate one (1) of the members of the HRC to act as hearing officer. The hearing officer shall provide the HRC of the municipality with a written decision within ten (10) working days after the date of the hearing.
4. 
The City Council shall review the decision of the hearing officer and may adopt, refuse to adopt or modify the same. The City Clerk shall furnish a copy of the hearing officer's decision and written notification of the action taken by the City Council to the grievant within sixty (60) working days of the filing of the grievance. The decision will be mailed by "Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested". The grievant will also be advised of his/her right to file a request for review with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Division, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-2836, ATTN: Mr. Roy Pierce.
C. 
Nothing in this Section is intended to be nor shall it be construed to abrogate or to in anyway modify the power of the Mayor and the City Council to terminate the employment of any City employee at will as granted to the Mayor and City Council by the Statutes of the State of Missouri.