(1) An employee has three (3) business days from the date the employee is notified of the subject action to have an informal discussion about the issue with the department head or the department head’s designee. This discussion is considered to be an informal appeal of the subject action. Unless the employee and the department head mutually otherwise agree, only those two (2) parties shall be present during the informal discussion, and no formal record or audio recording of the discussion will be kept.

(2) Upon completion of the informal discussion, the department head has three (3) business days to notify the employee of the department head’s or designee’s decision to either uphold, overturn, or amend the subject action.

(3) The informal appeal is considered to be denied if the discussion is not held within three (3) business days, or if the employee is not notified of the department head’s decision within three (3) business days of having the discussion. The deadlines for the informal appeal process can be extended up to one (1) week if mutually agreed upon by the employee and the department head.

(4) In the event the informal appeal is denied, the employee has three (3) business days from the date of notification to submit a written notice of appeal to the Mayor’s Office. The notice of appeal shall be on a form approved by the Mayor’s Office. At the discretion of the Mayor, the appeal will be heard by either the Mayor or Chief Administrative Officer. Unless the employee and the Mayor or Chief Administrative Officer mutually agree otherwise, only those two (2) parties shall be present during this informal discussion, and no formal record or audio recording of the discussion will be kept. The Mayor or Chief Administrative Officer has seven (7) business days from the time the notice of appeal is received to conduct the hearing.

(5) After hearing the appeal, the Mayor or Chief Administrative Officer has three (3) business days to notify the employee of the Mayor’s or Chief Administrative Officer’s decision to either uphold or overturn the subject action.

(6) The appeal to the Mayor’s Office is considered denied if the discussion is not held within seven (7) business days of the appeal being submitted, or if the employee is not notified of the decision within three (3) business days of the hearing being held. The deadline for the appeal process to the Mayor’s Office can be extended up to one (1) week if mutually agreed upon by the employee and the Mayor.

(7) In the event the appeal to the Mayor’s Office is denied, the employee may formally appeal the subject action to the Appeal Board.