It is the policy of the City of Middletown that
no person shall discriminate with respect to housing in the City of
Middletown in violation of any federal, state or local law.
[Amended 5-2-2016 by Ord.
No. 06-16]
A. Any person who claims to have been injured by a violation of §
156-2 may file a complaint with the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management. Such a complaint shall be filed within 90 days after the alleged violation occurred. Complaints shall be in writing, shall state the facts upon which the violation is based and shall be verified. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management shall furnish a copy of the same to the person or persons allegedly committing the violation with the request that a verified answer be filed with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management within 20 days of receipt of the copy of the complaint.
B. After receipt of the answer or upon the expiration
of the 20 days without receipt of an answer, the Director of Equal
Opportunity and Diversity Management shall proceed to try to mediate
the dispute and eliminate or correct the alleged violation by informal
methods of conference, conciliation and persuasion. Nothing said or
done in the course of such proceedings may be made public or used
as evidence in a subsequent proceeding under this chapter without
the written consent of the person concerned.
C. If the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity
Management is unsuccessful in resolving the complaint, then the matter
shall be referred to the State Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
or, if the violation of this chapter also constitutes a violation
of a state or federal statute, to other appropriate state or federal
authorities.