Sec. 4000.5. Arbitration hearings

The board will fix the date and time of hearing and designate the mediator who will arbitrate the dispute. Cases assigned to staff may be subject to adjournment at any time if it is necessary to assign the mediator to a mediation matter. It is also the policy of the board that, where a matter is assigned to a staff arbitrator before proceeding with the hearing, the parties will be required to frame the issue, agree thereon and sign a stipulation on a form furnished by the board. In the event the parties cannot agree on the issue or either or both refuse to sign the submission agreement, the staff arbitrator may frame the issue and proceed with the arbitration or recommend to the board that the matter be referred to panel arbitration.