Filing a Complaint:

Applicability

The complaint procedures apply to the beneficiaries of the City of Meridian’s programs, activities, including but not limited to: the public, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants, employees and other sub-recipients of federal and state funds.

Eligibility

If any individual, group of individuals or program beneficiaries have been subjected to unequal treatment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex disability or age which is prohibited by Title VI nondiscrimination provisions in the receipt of benefits and/or services, s/he may file a complaint with the City of Meridian. Every effort will be made to resolve complaints informally at the City, recipient and/or contract level.

Time Limitation on Filing Complaints

Title VI complaints may be filed with:

· City of Meridian

· Mississippi Department of Transportation

· Federal Highway Administration

· U.S. Department of Transportation

All City of Meridian employees must report complaints immediately to the Title VI Coordinator upon receipt of Title VI related complaints.

Complaints must be filed no later than 180 days after:

· The date of the alleged act of discrimination; or

· The date the person became aware of the alleged discrimination; or

· Where there has been a continuing course of discriminatory conduct, the date on which the conduct was discontinued.

Complaints must be reduced to writing and must be signed by the complainant and/or the complainant’s representative. The complaint must address the facts and the circumstances leading to the claimed discrimination.

A Title VI complaint form is available online at the City of Meridian’s website and at the City of Meridian’s City Clerk’s office during normal business hours.