Human Rights Commission reviews revised complaint form; seeks clarity on whether city will investigate or refer to MCAD

The Worcester Human Rights Commission examined a revised external civil-rights complaint form July 26 and asked city leadership for clarification on whether the city’s Executive Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EO DEI) will investigate complaints in-house or primarily refer them to outside agencies such as the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).

Director Patricia Lafore told commissioners the law department approved a revised complaint form that differs from an earlier draft the commission had supported. Key law-department requirements on the approved form, Lafore said, include: no acceptance of anonymous complaints; a 300-day statute-of-limitations consistent with MCAD practice; and a prohibition on listing a separate “WPD” category on the public form. The law department also approved allowing a complaint to be filed by a third party only when a legally recognized…