(a) The personnel board shall hear all appeals from final personnel action as requested by an affected and eligible employee. Eligible employees shall include regular status classified employees and may include other employees as authorized by the county commission so long as the inclusion does not violate the intent of this article. The board shall hear the appeals in accordance with guidelines written by the board, with the advice of the Barbour County Commission. Final personnel action shall include administrative action, action based on the rules, policies, and procedures of the county, and disciplinary action. All appeals shall be made in good faith and timely filed. Willfully filing an appeal based on false facts or solely for the purpose of harassment may be grounds for disciplinary action.

(b) Hearings before the personnel board shall not be evidentiary hearings, or follow the formalities of a court of law, or require that the rules of evidence be followed. However, all testimony shall be under oath and the board shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and demand production of relevant documents and things. The personnel board shall adopt its own rules regarding the guidelines to be used in conducting hearings. The personnel board shall have the authority to render a decision at the conclusion of a hearing. The decision may uphold, reverse, or amend any prior action. All decisions shall be made within 10 days of the board's receipt of the employee's appeal and shall be supported by factual findings based on the hearing, appropriate law, and approved personnel rules, policies, and procedures. The decision of the personnel board shall be binding on all parties. Only after all administrative remedies have been exhausted may an affected party take an appeal to the Circuit Court of Barbour County. The appeal to the circuit court shall be de novo. The board shall maintain sufficient records to document its decisions and actions in any matter.