Within ten days following acceptance of a petition for review, the chair shall notify both the petitioner and the political subdivision that the services of an impartial mediator will be made available to the petitioner and the political subdivision to assist in the resolution of the issues separating the petitioner and the political subdivision.
Mediation services shall be offered in every dispute involving supplementary review. The offer of mediation services shall terminate 25 days after a petition is accepted. Mediation services may be requested by either the petitioner or the political subdivision; however, the petitioner and the political subdivision must agree to mediation.
A single impartial mediator shall be selected for each review. The petitioner and the political subdivision shall have a ten-day period after notification of an agreement to mediate to select a mediator acceptable to both parties. If an impartial mediator has not been selected within this ten-day period, a mediator shall be appointed by the chair.
Mediation shall be conducted for a period of 30 days following the appointment of a mediator by the chair unless the chair determines that continued mediation services will be beneficial to the resolution of the case.
The mediator, the petitioner, or the political subdivision may terminate mediation at any time. The mediator shall immediately notify the chair of the termination of mediation.
The board shall pay the costs of mediation.
If an agreement is reached by the close of the mediation period, the agreement shall be referred to the board for review.
Minn. R. agency 141, ch. 9200, pt. 9200.4400
Statutory Authority: MS s 115A.32