(a) The arbitration committee may be called into session by the Director of the State Plant Board or upon the direction of the chairperson to consider the matters referred to it by the board.
(b) If the committee determines that an informal hearing should be conducted to allow each party an opportunity to present his or her respective side of the dispute, attorneys may be present at the hearing to confer with their clients, but may not participate directly in the proceedings unless requested to do so by the chairperson of the arbitration committee.