(1) The hearings official shall be selected by the city agent and certified bargaining agents for a term of three (3) years. The hearings official may be removed from office prior to the expiration of the term by a unanimous vote of the parties. A term of office shall extend from the time of appointment until June 30th of the third year of such appointment.

(2) Within sixty (60) days after the effective date of sections 2.876 to 2.896 of this Code, or within thirty (30) days after the hearings official’s position is vacated, the city agent and the bargaining agents shall meet and nominate three (3) persons each, from which the hearings official shall be selected by unanimous vote.

(3) If the parties are unable to unanimously select a hearings official within sixty (60) days after the effective date of sections 2.876 to 2.896, or within thirty (30) days after the position of hearings official is vacated, the city shall appoint a representative and the certified bargaining agents shall jointly appoint a representative. A third and impartial representative, experienced in public and private sector labor relations, shall be appointed by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or its successor. The persons thus appointed shall request a list of ten (10) impartial persons experienced in labor relations from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or its successor. Within one week of the receipt of the list, the three representatives shall select a hearings official from among the persons named on the list.

(4) Nothing in the Code precludes mutual agreement by the interested parties to a proceeding assigned to the hearings official by this Code to appoint an adversary representative for city employees and for the city and to conduct the proceeding with a tripartite panel.