[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Glenwood
City 12-1-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-02 as Title 15, Ch. 2, of the 2003 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The City of Glenwood City is committed to providing adequate
access by handicapped or visually impaired persons to public buildings.
This chapter provides for a grievance procedure providing for prompt
and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited
by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.
§ 794). Section 504 states, in part, that "no otherwise
qualified handicapped individual...shall, solely by reason of his
handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits
of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
receiving federal financial assistance."
A.Â
Complaints should be filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer, who has
been designated to coordinate Section 504 compliance.
B.Â
A complaint should be filed in writing or verbally, contain the name
and address of the person filing it, and briefly describe the alleged
violation of the regulations.
C.Â
A complaint should be filed within 30 days after the complainant
becomes aware of the alleged violation. (Processing of allegation
of discrimination occurring before this grievance procedure was in
place will be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
D.Â
An investigation, as may be appropriate, shall follow a filing of
a complaint. The investigation will be conducted by an appropriate
person designated by the City Clerk-Treasurer who should review the
Handicapped Requirements Handbook published by the Federal Programs
Advisory Service.
E.Â
A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and description
of the resolution, if any, shall be issued by the designated person
and a copy forwarded to the complainant no later than 30 days after
its filing.
F.Â
The Section 504 coordinator shall maintain the files and records
of the City relating to the complaints filed.
A.Â
The complainant may appeal the decision of the Section 504 coordinator
where he or she is dissatisfied with the resolution. The appeal request
shall be made within seven days to the City Clerk-Treasurer.
B.Â
The grievance shall be heard by the Common Council within 10 working
days after the filing of an appeals request. The grievance shall be
heard at the Municipal Building at a convenient time fixed by the
Council. The City Clerk-Treasurer shall give at least three days'
written notice to the applicant by first-class mail of any such grievance
hearing.[1]
C.Â
Either party to the grievance may be represented, present evidence
by testimony or otherwise, cross-examine witnesses and make argument
either in person or by an agent of his or her choosing. Proceedings
may, and upon request of the applicant shall, be recorded.
D.Â
The decision of the Common Council on the grievance appeal shall
be in writing and shall state the reasons for the decision. The decision
of the Council shall be rendered within three working days of the
close of the hearing, and the Common Council shall immediately upon
rendering the decision mail a copy thereof by first-class mail to
the applicant and record a copy of its determination with the City
Clerk-Treasurer.
The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of
the complaint filed hereunder shall not be impaired by the person's
pursuit of other remedies, such as the filing of a Section 504 complaint
with the Office of Revenue Sharing (ORS), United States Department
of the Treasury. Utilization of this grievance procedure is not a
prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies. However, the City believes
that resolution of the complaint will be more promptly achieved if
the City is able to provide a remedy before the complaint is brought
to an external organization.
This chapter shall be construed to protect the substantive rights
of interested persons, to meet appropriate due process standards and
to assure that the City complies with Section 504 and the ORS regulations.
