Discrimination Complaint Procedure

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Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated on the basis of race, color, or national origin by Arc on the Gulf, Inc. may file a complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s complaint form to: 

Arc on the Gulf, Inc.

Andrew Rutherford, CFO

P. O. Box 8, Port St. Joe, Florida 32457

Phone: (850) 229-6550

Fax: (850) 227-2084

gtran@fairpoint.net

How to fill out this form:

Click on it, download it, open it on your computer, print it then sign it

This form is available on our website www.arconthegulf.com and in our offices, it can be mailed or emailed on request, and will be added to our website at such time in the future when our website is developed.  Complaints should be filed within 180 days of the alleged incident.

Arc on the Gulf, Inc. investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. Arc on the Gulf, Inc. will process complaints that are complete. Once the complaint is received, Arc on the Gulf, Inc. will review it to determine if the information is complete.

If more information is needed to resolve the case, Arc on the Gulf, Inc. may contact the complainant. The complainant has 10 business days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within 10 business days, Arc on the Gulf, Inc. can administratively close the case. A case can be administratively closed also if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue a written notice to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. An LOF summarizes the allegations and the information regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member, or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has 10 days after the date of the letter or the LOF to do so. 

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration, at FTA Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

According to the 2020 Census data, our service area does not meet the Safe Harbor threshold of 5% (or over 1,000) for any LEP language group. However, if that should change in the future, we will provide the procedure and complaint form in the applicable language if needed.