a.Any time limit set forth in this Rule may be extended by written agreement between the City and the grievant.

b.Only upon mutual written agreement between the parties may Step I of the grievance procedure be waived.

c.Failure on the part of the grievant or the grievant’s designated representative to comply with the time limits of this procedure or any extension thereto shall constitute a withdrawal of the grievance without further recourse to resubmittal under this procedure. Failure on the part of the City to comply with prescribed time limits or extensions thereto shall result in the grievance being moved to the next step of the procedure.

d.As limited in Section 15.02b.1.i), the grievant shall be entitled to have a representative of his/her own choosing present at any grievance meeting with the City.

e.Nothing herein shall preclude the use of alternative means of resolving the grievance. Such means must be jointly agreed to by the City and the employee.

f.The burden of proof on all issues shall reside with the grievant.

g.All preparation of the grievance shall be done on the grievant’s own time. The grievant shall be allowed reasonable use of personal leave time to meet with a representative, provided prior permission is obtained from the immediate supervisor. If the supervisor determines that granting the leave request will unduly interfere with work priorities, the request may be denied provided time off is granted within twenty-four (24) hours of the originally requested time.

h.All meetings to resolve the grievance shall be conducted during regular business hours and the grievant, grievance committee members, and any witnesses shall be granted release time for their attendance as required.

i.Grievances which are appealed may be referred back to the department head for further consideration or discussion by the City Manager or Grievance Committee if there is new evidence presented which was apparently not reviewed in the department head’s investigation. If a grievance is referred back to the department head, the time limits for Step II shall be controlling and shall begin on the date the referral action is taken.

j.No reprisal shall result against any employee or group of employees who present a bona fide grievance under this procedure or to any witness on behalf of a grievant.