1608.1 Whenever a protest is filed, all parties shall attend a settlement conference among themselves on any mutually convenient date prior to the scheduled status or protest hearing. The date of the settlement conference may be arranged at the roll call hearing or may be arranged at any other time.

1608.2 The parties at a settlement conference may enter into a cooperative/voluntary agreement, as provided for in § 1609, and shall submit, on or before the date of the scheduled status or protest hearing, the agreement to the Board for approval.

1608.3 If the parties fail to reach a cooperative/voluntary agreement on one or more of the protest issues, they shall so state at the scheduled status or protest hearing and the Board shall thereupon proceed with a protest hearing as to all unresolved issues of fact.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 4309 (April 30, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 12991 (December 26, 2008).