§ 9.3-26. Complaints.

(a)

A person who claims that another person has committed a discriminatory housing practice against him may report that offense to the administrator by filing an informal complaint within sixty (60) days of the date of the alleged discriminatory housing practice and not later.

(b)

The administrator shall treat a complaint referred by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Attorney General of the United States under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Public Law 90-284, as an informal complaint filed under subsection (1).

(c)

An informal complaint must be in writing, verified or affirmed, on a form to be supplied by the administrator and shall contain the following:

(1)

Identity and address of the offending party;

(2)

Date of the offense and date of filing the informal complaint;

(3)

General statements of facts of the offense including the basis of the discrimination (race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, handicap, or age);

(4)

Name and signature of the complainant.

(d)

Each complaint shall be held in confidence by the administrator unless and until the complainant and the offending party(ies) consent in writing that it shall be public.

(e)

Within fifteen (15) days after the filing of the informal complaint, the administrator shall transmit a copy of the same to each respondent named therein by certified mail, return receipt requested. Thereupon, the respondent(s) may file a written, verified, informal answer to the informal complaint within twenty (20) days of the date of receipt of the informal complaint.

(f)

An informal complaint or answer may be amended at any time, and the administrator shall furnish a copy of each amended informal complaint or answer to the offending party(ies) or complainant, respectively, within seven (7) days of the date of receipt of the amended informal complaint or answer.

(g)

The administrator shall assist complainants or offending parties when necessary in the preparation and filing of informal complaints or answers or any amendments thereto.

(Ord. No. 93-14, § 6, 3-9-93)