Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by the City of Watertown Citibus department (hereinafter referred to as "the department") may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form.
Please submit this form in person at the address below, or mail this form to:
CitiBus Transit Director
544 Newell Street
Watertown, NY 13601
The CitiBus Transit Director will process complaints received no more than 180 calendar days after the alleged incident. The CitiBus Transit Director will forward completed complaints to the City of Watetown City Manager’s Office where they will will review and determine if their office has jurisdiction process the complaint. A copy of the complaint form is available by clicking this link, TitleVI Complaint Form, or by mail by calling the CitiBus Transit Director's Office at 315-785-7771. Hearing impaired citizens in need of relay service can dial 711. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing them whether the complaint will be investigated by their office.
The City Manager’s Office has 30 business days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, the Office 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, the Office 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, they will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. An LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews 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, they have 10 business 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.