A. The Ombudsman shall receive complaints from any source concerning any
administrative act. He or she may conduct a suitable investigation of a
complaint that is an appropriate subject for investigation. An appropriate
subject for investigation by the Ombudsman includes any administrative act that
the Ombudsman believes might be:
1. contrary to, law, regulation or agency practice;
2. unreasonable, unfair, oppressive, arbitrary, an abuse of
discretion, or unnecessarily discriminatory even though in accordance with
law;
3. based on mistaken facts or irrelevant considerations;
4. unclear or not adequately explained;
5. performed in an inefficient or discourteous manner;
6. otherwise erroneous or objectionable.
B. The Ombudsman, at the Ombudsman’s discretion, may decide not to
investigate a complaint because:
1. the complainant could reasonably be expected to use, or is using,
another remedy or channel, or tort claim, for the grievance stated in the
complaint;
2. the complaint relates to a matter that is outside the
jurisdiction of the Ombudsman;
3. the complaint has been too long delayed to justify present
examination;
4. the complainant does not have a sufficient personal interest in,
or is not personally aggrieved by, the subject matter of the complaint;
5. the complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious or not made in
good faith;
6. the resources of the Ombudsman's Office are insufficient for
adequate investigation;
7. other complaints are more worthy of attention.
C. The Ombudsman shall not investigate matters currently in
litigation; covered by collective bargaining agreement grievance procedures; or,
employee or applicant discrimination complaints.
D. The Ombudsman's declining to investigate a complaint shall not bar
the Ombudsman from proceeding on his or her own initiative to investigate an
administrative act whether or not included in the complaint.
E. The Ombudsman shall protect the confidentiality of complainants or
witnesses coming before him or her consistent with the requirements of the
Oregon Public Records Law, except insofar as disclosures may be necessary to
enable the Ombudsman to carry out his or her duties or the disclosure of records
is directed by the District Attorney. (See Subsection 3.77 110 F.)
F. The Ombudsman shall have the authority to pursue administrative
review of responses to complaints through higher authorities within the
City.
|