Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-473c:

(1) Not later than October 30, 2000, the legislative body of the municipal employer may reject the award of the arbitrators or single arbitrator issued pursuant to section 7-478e by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of such legislative body present at a regular or special meeting called and convened for such purpose.

(2) Not later than November 10, 2000, the legislative body or its authorized representative shall be required to state, in writing, the reasons for such vote and shall submit such written statement to the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and the municipal employee organization. Not later than November 20, 2000, the municipal employee organization shall prepare a written response to such rejection and shall submit it to the legislative body and the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration.

(3) Not later than November 20, 2000, the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration shall select a review panel of three arbitrators or, if the parties agree, a single arbitrator who are residents of Connecticut and labor relations arbitrators approved by the American Arbitration Association and not members of the panel who issued the rejected award. Such arbitrators or single arbitrator shall review the decision on each such rejected issue. The review conducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to the record of the hearing pursuant to section 7-478e, the written explanation of the reasons for the vote and a written response by either party. In conducting such review, the arbitrators or single arbitrator shall be limited to consideration of the criteria set forth in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 7-473c. Such review shall be completed not later than December 10, 2000.

(4) Not later than December 15, 2000, after the completion of such review, the arbitrators or single arbitrator shall render a written decision with respect to each rejected issue which shall be final and binding upon the municipal employer and the employee organization except that a motion to vacate or modify such award may be made in accordance with sections 52-418 and 52-419. The arbitrators or single arbitrator shall accept the last best offer of either of the parties. The decision of the arbitrators or single arbitrator shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons and standards used by each arbitrator in making a decision on each issue. The decision shall be filed with the parties. The reasonable costs of the arbitrators or single arbitrator and the cost of the transcript shall be paid by the legislative body. Where the legislative body of a municipal employer is the town meeting, the board of selectmen shall perform all of the duties and shall have all of the authority and responsibilities required of and granted to the legislative body under this subsection.

(P.A. 00-98, S. 5, 6.)

History: P.A. 00-98 effective April 26, 2000.