Ypsilanti HRC asks city attorney for reports and a clearer complaint process

The Ypsilanti Human Relations Commission on April 27 voted to request that the city attorney provide the commission with reports about discrimination complaints as those reports become available, including information about dismissed complaints, and to clarify the standard procedure and timing an individual should expect after filing a complaint.

Committee member (speaker 4) framed the motion in response to a resident-submitted complaint and expressed concern that the commission sometimes receives no information unless the city attorney deems a complaint “valid.” The commissioner asked for as much non-identifying information as permissible—such as counts of complaints received and counts dismissed—to spot potential patterns.

Clark Boudreaux, the city clerk, said the commission is currently made aware only of complaints the city attorney deems discrimination and that quarterly updates are typical when there are substantiated matters. After discussion, commissioners amended and approved a motion requesting: reports to the commission as they become available; inclusion of dismissed complaints or aggregate counts where legally permissible; and clarification on any standardized response window or automated acknowledgments complainants should receive.

The clerk said she will forward the request to the city attorney and report back when the attorney responds. Commissioners emphasized that having procedural clarity—such as an expected response time—would help staff and residents and said they want the information available before the upcoming town hall so attendees know what to expect.