174                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 21

IF ANY PERSON IS AGGRIEVED BY ANY DECISION, ACTION, OR
INACTION ON THE PART OF THE SECRETARY OR OF ANY UNIT IN THE
DEPARTMENT FOR WHICH AN APPEAL TO THE BOARD IS PROVIDED BY
THIS SUBTITLE, THAT PERSON IS ENTITLED TO APPEAL AS PROVIDED
IN THIS SECTION.

(B)  NOTICE TO DEPARTMENT.

EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (E)(2) OF THIS
SECTION, BEFORE BEGINNING AN APPEAL, THE PERSON AGGRIEVED
SHALL MAKE KNOWN THE BASIS OF THE COMPLAINT TO THE
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECISION, ACTION, OR INACTION
COMPLAINED OF, TOGETHER WITH A REQUEST FOR REVIEW. IF,
WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE REQUEST, A RESOLUTION SATISFACTORY
TO THE COMPLAINANT DOES NOT OCCUR, THE COMPLAINANT MAY FILE
A STATEMENT OF COMPLAINT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (C)
OF THIS SECTION.

(C)  STATEMENT OF COMPLAINT.

THE COMPLAINANT SHALL FILE A DETAILED WRITTEN STATEMENT
OF THE COMPLAINT AND ALL RELEVANT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OR UNIT
IN THE DEPARTMENT TO WHICH APPLICATION FOR REVIEW IS MADE.
IF THERE IS NO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE STATEMENT MAY BE
FILED WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE UNIT'S GOVERNING BODY. THE
COMPLAINT SHALL BE ACKNOWLEDGED PROMPTLY IN WRITING, AND A
COPY OF THE COMPLAINT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT SHALL BE SENT TO
THE SECRETARY.

(D)  INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINT; RECORD.

(1)  THE DEPARTMENT OR UNIT THEN SHALL
INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINT. SUBJECT TO EXTENSIONS OF TIME TO
WHICH THE PARTIES MAY AGREE, THE DEPARTMENT OR UNIT SHALL
GIVE A WRITTEN DECISION AND SEND A COPY OF IT TO THE
COMPLAINANT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE FILING OF THE
COMPLAINT.

(2)  A RECORD SHALL BE KEPT OF EACH COMPLAINT AND
ITS DISPOSITION. THE RECORD SHALL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC
INSPECTION DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.

(E)  APPEAL TO BOARD.

(1)  IF THE MATTER IS ONE FOR WHICH AN APPEAL TO
THE BOARD IS PROVIDED BY THIS SUBTITLE, A COMPLAINANT
AGGRIEVED BY AN ADVERSE DECISION OR ACTION OR BY INACTION
WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION
MAY FILE AN APPEAL TO THE BOARD.

(2)  SUBJECT TO ARTICLE 41, § 253 OF THE CODE,
ANY PARTY AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION IN A CONTESTED CASE FOR
WHICH AN APPEAL IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD MAY APPEAL DIRECTLY
TO THE BOARD.