New Bedford Port Authority Title VI and ADA Discrimination Complaint Procedures

PUBLIC NOTICE

Introduction

The New Bedford Harbor Development Commission d/b/a New Bedford Port Authority (“NBPA”) has established this ‘Complaint of Discrimination’ Procedure as a mechanism for the review and resolution of allegations of discrimination.

These procedures apply to complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, creed, and disability in any program or activity administered by the NBPA or its sub‐recipients, consultants and/or contractors. Retaliation or intimidation of any kind is also prohibited by law.

These procedures do not negate or limit the right of the complainant to file formal complaints with other state or federal agencies. These procedures are part of an administrative process that does not provide for remedies such as compensatory damages for the complainant.

Complaint Basis

Allegations must be based on issues involving race, color, national origin, sex, age, creed, or disability. The term basis refers to the complainant’s protected group status. A Protected Group is a group of people with common characteristics who are legally protected from discrimination based on that or those characteristic(s).