City of Mineola Title VI Policy Statement
It is the policy of the City of Mineola to comply with all federal and state authorities requiring nondiscrimination, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice) and 13166 (Limited English Proficiency). The City of Mineola does not and will not exclude from participation in; deny the benefits of; or subject anyone to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
All Federally-assisted programs will be administered in a manner to guarantee that the City of Mineola, other recipients, sub-recipients, contractors, subcontractors, transferees, and other participants in Federal financial assistance comply with all requirements imposed by or pursuant to, civil rights acts and Department of Transportation regulations. The City of Mineola’s Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Conciliation is responsible for initiating and monitoring Title VI activities, preparing required reports as required by 23 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 200 and 49 Code of Federal Regulation Part 21.
*Those requiring information in alternative formats or in a language subject to the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan, should contact the Title VI Coordinator.
Title VI Public Notice
City of Mineola fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes, executive orders, and regulations in all programs and activities. The City operates without regard to race, color, national origin, income, gender, age, and disability. Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI may by themselves or by representative file a written complaint with the City of Mineola, Title VI Coordinator. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination.
Public Meeting Notice
City Meetings are conducted in accessible locations and materials can be provided in accessible formats and in languages other than English. If you would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact City Secretary at (903) 569-6186. If you wish to attend a City function and require special accommodations, please give City of Mineola one week’s notice in advance.
If special accommodations are needed to participate in this public meeting, contact the City of Mineola at (903) 569-6186 at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Title VI Complaint Procedures
Introduction
These procedures apply to complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, relating to any program and/or activity administered by the City of Mineola or its sub-recipients, consultants, and/or contractors. Intimidation or retaliation of any kind is prohibited by law.
These procedures do not deny the right of the complainant to file formal complaints with other State or Federal agencies, or to seek private counsel for complaints alleging discrimination. These procedures are part of an administrative process that does not provide for remedies that include punitive damages or compensatory remuneration for the complainant.
Every effort will be made to obtain early resolution of complaints at the lowest possible level. The option of informal mediation meeting(s) between the affected parties and the investigator may be utilized for resolution, at any stage of the process. The City of Mineola will make every effort to pursue a resolution of the complaint. Initial interviews with the complainant and the respondent will include requests for information regarding specific relief and settlement options.
Filing
Any person who believes that he or she or any specific class of persons has been subjected to discrimination or retaliation prohibited by Civil Rights authorities, based upon race, color, or national origin may file a written complaint to the City of Mineola’s Title VI Program Coordinator. A formal complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged occurrence or when the alleged discrimination became known to the complainant. The complaint must meet the following requirements:
Complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant(s).
Complaints must include the date of the alleged act(s) of discrimination (date when the complainant(s) became aware of the alleged discrimination; or the date on which the conduct was discontinued or the latest instance of the conduct.
Complaint must present a detailed description of the issues, including names, job titles, and addresses of those individuals perceived as parties in the action complained against.
Receipt and Acceptance
Upon receipt of the complaint, the Title VI Coordinator will determine its jurisdiction and any need for additional information. The complaint will be forwarded to City Council for a determination of acceptability. The Title VI Coordinator will notify the complainant, in writing within ten (10) business days of receipt of the complaint.
In order to be accepted, a complaint must meet the following criteria:
- The complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged occurrences or when the alleged discrimination became known to the complainant.
- The allegation(s) must involve a covered basis such as race, color, gender, age, income, disability, or national origin.
- The allegation(s) must involve a program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance.
Dismissal
A complaint may be recommended for dismissal for the following reasons:
- The complainant requests withdrawal of the complaint.
- The complainant fails to respond to repeated requests for additional information needed to process the complaint.
- The complainant cannot be located after reasonable attempts to contact the complainant.
Investigation of Complaints
In cases where City of Mineola assumes responsibility for investigation, the City will provide the respondent with the opportunity to respond to the allegations in writing. The City Council will designate an investigative team responsible for evaluating the complaint, developing an investigative plan, conducting interviews, collecting and analyzing evidence, and preparing an investigative report.
The final investigative report will be submitted to the appropriate federal agency, within 90 days of receipt of the complaint. City Council will issue a final agency decision (FAD) and provide written notification of the decision to the complainant and respondent.
Appeals
If City Council concludes that the respondent is in compliance with laws/regulations and the complainant disagrees, the complainant may, if dissatisfied, file an action in the appropriate U.S. District Court.
