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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
NIRPC Procedures for Tracking and
Investigating Civil Rights Complaints
Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the
basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and services funded, in
whole or part, by financial assistance from the United States Government.
All
services and programs operated or sponsored by the Northwestern Indiana Regional
Planning Commission, 6100 Southport Road,
Under
the provisions of Title VI and the ADA, persons
who believe that they have experienced or witnessed any act or inaction,
intentional or otherwise, in any program, service, or activity operated by or
sponsored by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission that results
in or may result in disparate treatment or impact, or perpetuates the effects of
prior discrimination of the basis of race, color, or national origin or
disability may file a
written complaint with Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission or the
U.S. Federal Transit Administration.
Complaints
filed directly with Federal Transit Administration must be mailed within 180
days of any alleged discrimination. Complaints should be mailed to:
Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights
Attention Title VI Program Coordinator
Washington, D. C, 20590
It
shall be the responsibility of the Executive Director, or his designee, to
track, investigate and document Title VI and ADA complaints.
How to File A Complaint To NIRPC
A
person with a Title VI or ADA complaint may also submit the complaint to NIRPC
using the following procedures:
1.
A complaint may be submitted in writing and must include the person’s
name and contact information, the date of the incidence, and the identity of the
person or department or service that caused the complaint.
Complaints may be sent via mail, email, fax, or hand delivered.
2.
A complaint may be taken verbally and must include the person’s name
and contact information, the date of the incidence, and the identity of the
person, department or service that caused the complaint.
3.
Persons with a complaint may request a neutral third party to hear a
verbal complaint or assist with a written complaint.
The selection of the neutral third party shall be made cooperatively
between NIRPC and the person filing the complaint.
4.
All complaints shall be addressed to the NIRPC Executive Director.
NIRPC
Complaint Procedure
1.
The person filing a complaint on the basis of discrimination based on
race, color, or national origin or disability will be informed that the complaint may be
either filed directly with the FTA or with NIRPC.
The contact information for the FTA will be provided should the person
opt to file directly with FTA. NIRPC’s
Executive Director shall be responsible for follow up and monitoring FTA action.
2.
If the person opts to file the complaint with NIRPC, the complaint will
be directed by the Executive Director to the appropriate department manager for
a fact-finding review. The
manager will prepare a written response to the complaint and submit it to the
NIRPC Executive Director.
3.
If the complaint is valid and supported by facts, the Executive Director
will order corrective action be taken.
4.
The person who filed the complaint will be consulted as to the adequacy of the
proposed remedy. If
acceptable, the matter is concluded.
5.
If the proposed remedy is not
acceptable, the person who filed the complaint may request a hearing with the
NIRPC Finance and Personnel Committee for purposes of stating their complaint
and identifying an appropriate remedy.
6.
The Finance and Personnel Committee will issue a response and recommend a
remedy within ten days of the hearing.
7. If acceptable, the matter is concluded. If not, the person is again advised of the appropriate steps to file the complaint with the FTA.
Requests for this document in alternate format may be directed to NIRPC staff Allen Hammond at ahammond@nirpc.org; or by phone at 219/763-6060. TTY users may utilize the Relay Indiana service by calling 711 or 1-(800) 743-3333.
