The Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) receives federal funding to support a number of planning programs, including transportation, brownfields, Vermont Community Development Program/CDBG, HUD Sustainable Communities, hazard mitigation planning and other projects. As a sub-recipient of such funding, this organization is subject to State and Federal rules and regulations that prohibit discrimination in all activities, whether federally funded or not.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related Federal and State statutes and regulations, prohibits discrimination and provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, age, low income status, mental or physical disability, or persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
A key element for addressing Title VI at the planning phase is having an effective public involvement process. That process must be proactive and provides complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions and an opportunity for early and continuing involvement. A public involvement process should also include a process for seeking out and considering the needs of those who are traditionally ignored or underserved (e.g. by existing transportation systems).
It is the policy of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) to uphold and assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order 12898 and Executive Order 13166, and related federal and state statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, age, persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) or mental or physical disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance.
Complaint Procedures
Any person who believes that he or she, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or mental or physical disability, may file a complaint with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC).
The mailing address for written complaints is as follows:
Mary Kay Skaza, Title VI Coordinator
Rutland Regional Planning Commission
P.O. Box 430
Rutland, VT 05702
Complaints may also be submitted by telephone or fax. Contact numbers are as follows:
Phone: (802) 775-0871
Fax: (802) 775-1766
Electronic submission of complaints is also permitted. All complaints related to Title VI discrimination should be addressed to Mary Kay Skaza, Title VI Coordinator, at the following address: mskaza@rutlandrpc.org
