§ 2-136. Policy.

(a)

Personal face-to-face meetings are required at all steps of the grievance procedure. All stages of the grievance beyond the first step shall be in writing on forms supplied by the personnel office. With the exception of the final management step III, the only persons who may normally be present in the management step meetings are the grievant, the appropriate county official at the level at which the grievance is being heard, and appropriate witnesses for each side. Witnesses shall be present only while actually providing testimony. At the final management step, the grievant, at his option and at his own expense, may have present a representative of his choice. If the grievant is represented by legal counsel, the county likewise has the option of being represented by counsel.

(b)

Once an employee reduces his grievance to writing he must specify on the appropriate form the specific relief he expects to obtain through use of this procedure.

(c)

Failure by the grievant to comply with all substantial procedural requirements of the grievance procedure without just cause will terminate the right to further appeal.

(d)

Failure of the respondent to comply with all substantial procedural requirements of the final step of the grievance procedure without just cause or to comply with all substantial procedural requirements of the final step of the grievance procedure shall result in a decision in favor of the grievant.

(e)

In counting workdays, days of vacation and holidays are excluded.

(f)

All time periods listed in this procedure may be extended by mutual agreement by the parties to the agreement. However, the grievant's failure to process a grievance within the time limits specified terminates the grievance.

(g)

A grievance shared by a group begins at step II, using step I time limits.

(Ord. of 11-9-88; Ord. of 12-9-91)

(Ord. of 11-9-88; Ord. of 12-9-91)