2488

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION (IF THERE BE ANY) SHALL BE BOUND
BY THE PROVISIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT DURING THE
REMAINDER OF ITS TERM.

SECTION 1-258 - IMPASSE PROCEDURES

(A) IF, AFTER A REASONABLE PERIOD OF NEGOTIATION
OVER THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT, A DISPUTE EXISTS
BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATION OR ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHOM IT IS
NEGOTIATING, THE PARTIES MAY MUTUALLY AGREE THAT AN
IMPASSE HAS BEEN BEACHED; EXCEPT THAT IF ANY SUCH
DISPUTE EXISTS AS OF MARCH 1 PRIOR TO THE FINAL DATE
FOR SUBMISSION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET TO THE COUNTY
COUNCIL, AN IMPASSE SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE DEEMED TO
HAVE BEEN BEACHED. WHENEVER AN IMPASSE HAS BEEN
REACHED, THE DISPUTE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO MEDIATION.
IF THE PARTIES ARE UNABLE TO OTHERWISE AGREE ON THE
MEDIATOR, THE FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION
SERVICE SHALL BE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A MEDIATOR.

(E) IF THE IMPASSE IS NOT RESOLVED AT LEAST
THIRTY-FIVE (35) DAYS PRIOR TO THE BUDGET SUBMISSION
DATE, A FACT-FINDER SHALL BE SELECTED BY MUTUAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THE EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATION (OR ORGANIZATIONS AS A GROUP, WHERE MORE
THAN ONE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION IS INVOLVED IN THE
DISPUTE). IF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATION(S) ARE UNABLE TO AGREE ON THE SELECTION
OF THE FACT-FINDER BEFORE THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR TO
THE BUDGET SUBMISSION DATE, THEY SHALL MAKE THEIR
SELECTION FROM A PANEL OF NEUTRALS MAINTAINED BY THE
AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 1-255 (C)
HEREOF.

(C)  THE FACT-FINDER SHALL MEET WITH THE PARTIES
AND SHALL MAKE WRITTEN FINDINGS OF FACT AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE, NO
LATER THAN TEN (10) DAYS BEFORE THE BUDGET SUBMISSION
DATE. FACT-FINDING AS USED HEREIN SHALL INCLUDE THE
IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IN THE DISPUTE,
REVIEW OF THE POSITION OF THE PARTIES AND THE
RESOLUTION OF FACTUAL DIFFERENCES.

(D)   THE FACT-FINDER, IN MAKING HIS FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AMONG
OTHER PERTINENT FACTORS, WAGES, BENEFITS, HOURS, AND
OTHER WORKING CONDITIONS OF OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES,
BOTH IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY AND IN OTHER MARYLAND